Story Summary
Discover The Bremen Town Musicians, a classic Grimm fairy tale where four aging animals unite to find a new life, outsmarting a band of thieves with teamwork.
An aging donkey, no longer strong enough to carry sacks to the mill, overheard his master planning to do away with him. Deciding to flee, he set out for the city of Bremen to become a town musician. Along the way, he met a hound gasping for breath, a cat with a face as long as three days of rainy weather, and a rooster who was about to be turned into soup. Each was old and unwanted by their masters. The donkey invited them to join his journey, suggesting they could all make a living through music. As night fell, they found a cottage in the woods. Peering through the window, they saw a table laden with food and a band of robbers enjoying the feast. Hungry and tired, the animals hatched a plan. The donkey stood on his hind legs, the dog jumped on the donkey's back, the cat climbed the dog, and the rooster perched on the cat. On a signal, they burst through the window with a cacophony of braying, barking, meowing, and crowing. The terrified robbers fled into the woods, believing a monster had attacked. The four friends ate their fill and fell asleep. When one robber returned later that night, the animals attacked him in the dark, leading the thieves to believe the house was haunted by witches and monsters. The robbers never returned, and the four musicians found the cottage so comfortable they stayed there forever, never actually reaching Bremen.
The Moral
Strength comes in numbers, and through cooperation and resourcefulness, even the most vulnerable can overcome great threats and find a new purpose in life.
“Something better than death we can find anywhere.”
Fun Fact
In Bremen, it is considered good luck to touch the front legs of the donkey statue, which is why the metal there is polished to a bright gold shine from thousands of hands.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the moral of The Bremen Town Musicians?
The moral is that teamwork and unity allow individuals to overcome obstacles they couldn't face alone. It also teaches that aging doesn't erase one's value or the ability to start a new chapter in life.
Did the animals ever actually reach the city of Bremen?
No, the animals never reached Bremen. After successfully scaring away the robbers and occupying their cottage, they found the home so comfortable and the food so plentiful that they decided to settle there permanently.
Why did the animals decide to leave their homes?
Each animal was aging and could no longer perform their chores effectively. Fearing that their masters intended to kill or get rid of them because they were no longer 'useful,' they fled to seek a new life.
Who wrote The Bremen Town Musicians?
The story was collected and published by the Brothers Grimm (Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm) in their 1819 edition of 'Children's and Household Tales,' though it originated from older oral folk traditions.
How did the animals scare the robbers away?
The animals used a 'frightful' tactic by stacking themselves on top of each other to appear like a giant monster. They then crashed through the window while making a deafening, discordant noise that terrified the thieves.
Is there a real-life tribute to the Bremen Town Musicians?
Yes, there is a famous bronze statue of the four animals stacked on top of each other in Bremen, Germany. It was created by Gerhard Marcks in 1953 and is one of the city's most popular landmarks.