The Analysis of The Golden Goose and The Princess and the Pea

Cabales, Rex Jacob F.

CED 02 301A

Introduction

The tale “The Golden Goose” is a German fairy tale collected by the Brothers Grimm,
appearing in their collection Grimm’s Fairy Tales (also known as Children’s and Household
Tales), first published in 1812. The Golden Goose is a fairy tale about a kind but simple
young man named Dummling, who is often underestimated by his family. One day, he shares
his food with an old man in the forest, and in return, the man gives him a golden goose. As
Dummling walks through town with the goose, anyone who tries to touch it becomes
magically stuck to it. A chain of people ends up stuck to the goose, causing a comical
procession through the town. Eventually, Dummling’s luck changes, and his generosity and
kindness help him win the heart of a princess.

On the other hand “The Princess and the Pea” was written by Hans Christian Andersen
and first published in 1835. Unlike many fairy tales that originated from oral traditions, this
story is Andersen’s own creation. The Princess and the Pea is a short fairy tale that explores
the theme of royal sensitivity and authenticity. A prince wants to marry a true princess, but
many women claim to be royal without proving their worth. One rainy night, a young woman
arrives at the palace seeking shelter. The queen tests her by placing a pea under twenty
mattresses and feather beds, claiming that only a true princess would be sensitive enough to
feel it. The next morning, the young woman complains about an uncomfortable night’s sleep,
revealing her royal status. The prince marries her, convinced she is a real princess. In this
paper, we will analyze the story of The Golden Goose and The Princess and the Pea using
Propp’s Morphology of the Folktale. This method will help break the story into basic parts
and show patterns that are common in many folktales.
Discussion

1st Sphere: Introduction

In the first sphere of the Propp's Morphology, It outlines seven steps that introduce the
situation and key characters, setting up the story for the adventure that follows. The first step
is the Absentation, this step is about a character being physically absent or unavailable. In
the story of The Golden Goose, this step is not observed as no one goes missing.

On the other hand, in the story of The Princess and the Pea, the prince sets out on a
journey to find a real princess. As stated in the story, “He traveled all over the world to find
one, but nowhere could he get what he wanted.”

The second step is the Interdiction. In this step, the hero is cautioned about something
that must not happen. In the story of The Golden Goose, Dummling’s father warns him not to
cut wood, saying, “Your brothers have hurt themselves with it; leave it alone; you do not
understand anything about it.” On the contrary, in the story of The Princess and the Pea this
step is not observed.

Next up, Violation of interdiction, the hero disregards the warning. This step occurs
when the hero ignores the warning or advice given. In the story of The Golden Goose,
Dummling insists on going to the forest, despite his father’s warning “Dummling begged so
long that at last he said, ‘Just go then; you will get wiser by hurting yourself.’” However, with
The Princess and the Pea, this step is not observed.

For Reconnaissance, the villain seeks something. In this step, the villain tries to gather
information about the hero or their goals. In the story of The Golden Goose, it is not
observed in this tale, as no specific villain is seeking anything, same goes with the tale of
The Princess and the Pea it is not observed.

Following, Delivery, the villain gains information. Here, the villain gets the information
they were seeking. This step is not observed in the stories, as there is no villain that gathers
information.

As for the Trickery, the Villain attempts to deceive the victim. In this step, the villain uses
deceit to mislead the hero or another character. Not observed in both stories, as there is no
deception by a villain.
 Next in line, Complicity, unwitting helping of the enemy. A character unknowingly helps
the villain achieve their goal. Not observed in both stories, as there is no unwitting complicity.

2nd Sphere: The Body of the Story

Moving on to the second sphere, the primary narrative begins here and continues until
the hero’s departure on their main quest. For Villainy and lack, the need is identified. This
step introduces a lack or problem that needs to be resolved. In the tale of The Golden
Goose, the main problem is the lack of fortune for Dummling, who is ridiculed as stated,
“Dummling, who was despised, mocked, and sneered at on every occasion.”

While in the tale of The Princess and the Pea, the prince cannot find a real princess to
marry, despite searching. “There were princesses enough, but it was difficult to find out
whether they were real ones.”

When it comes to Mediation, the hero discovers the lack. In this step, the hero becomes
aware of the problem. In the tale of The Golden Goose, Dummling realizes he needs to act
when he decides to go to the forest to cut wood, as stated “Father, do let me go and cut
wood.”

Yet, in the tale of The Princess and the Pea, the prince realizes he needs to find a true
princess, as stated “He would have liked very much to have a real princess.”

In Counteraction, the hero chooses positive action. The hero decides to act in response
to the problem. In the tale of The Golden Goose, Dummling agrees to share his food with the
old man in the forest, “I have only cinder cake and sour beer; if that pleases you, we will sit
down and eat.”

Moreover, in the tale of The Princess and the Pea, The prince chooses to continue his
search for a real princess. “He traveled all over the world to find one.”

Next is the Departure, the hero leaves on a mission. The hero embarks on a journey to
resolve the issue. In the tale of The Golden Goose, Dummling leaves for the forest to cut
wood, starting his journey, as stated in the story, “Then Dummling said, ‘Father, do let me go
and cut wood.’”

While in the tale of The Princess and the Pea, The prince leaves home to search for a
real princess, as depicted in this line “He came home again and was sad.”
3rd Sphere: The Donor Sequence

In this sphere, the hero searches for a way to find the solution and receives a magical
agent from the Donor. This could be a complete story on its own. In Testing, the hero is
challenged to prove heroic qualities. The hero faces a test or challenge. In the tale of The
Golden Goose, Dummling is tested when the old man asks for his food and drink, as stated
in the story, “Give me a piece of your cake and a drink out of your bottle; I am so hungry and
thirsty.”

Whereas, in the tale of The Princess and the Pea,the princess is tested by the old queen
to see if she is a real princess. “Well, we’ll soon find that out, thought the old queen.”

Next off, Reaction, the hero responds to the test. The hero reacts to the challenge. In the
tale of The Golden Goose, Dummling passes the test by sharing his simple food, as stated,
“I have only cinder cake and sour beer; if that pleases you, we will sit down and eat.

Whereas, in the tale of The Princess and the Pea,the princess complains about her
discomfort from the pea. “Oh, very badly! … I was lying on something hard.”

For Acquisition, the hero gains a magical item. The hero acquires something that helps
in the quest. In the tale of The Golden Goose, Dummling receives a golden goose from the
old man, “There stands an old tree; cut it down, and you will find something at the roots.”. On
the contrary, in the tale of The Princess and the Pea it is not observed.

For Guidance, the hero reaches the destination. The hero is guided toward the goal. In
the tale of The Golden Goose, Dummling brings the golden goose to an inn where the next
part of the story unfolds, “He lifted her up, and taking her with him, went to an inn where he
thought he would stay the night.”

While in the tale of The Princess and the Pea, the prince’s search is guided toward the
arrival of the princess at the gate.

When it comes to Struggle, the hero and villain do battle. The hero confronts the villain.
This step is not observed as there is no physical struggle or battle between Dummling and a
villain. Same goes with The Princess and the Pea; it is not observed.

In Branding, the hero is branded. The hero is marked or changed. This step is not
observed in both tales.
 Next up, Victory, the villain is defeated. The hero succeeds in overcoming the obstacle.
In the tale of The Golden Goose, this step is not observed in this story, as there is no distinct
villain to defeat.

Yet, in the tale of The Princess and the Pea, the test proves that the princess is real,
confirming the prince’s quest is over. As stated, “Now they knew that she was a real
princess.”

For Resolution, the initial misfortune or lack is resolved. The problem is solved, and
peace is restored. In the tale of The Golden Goose, the lack of fortune is resolved when
Dummling’s goose brings him closer to the princess, “She began to laugh quite loudly, and
as if she would never stop.”

Also, in the tale of The Princess and the Pea, the prince has found a true princess to
marry, as stated, “So the prince took her for his wife.”

4th Sphere: The Hero’s Return

For the last sphere, the hero returns home, often to a warm welcome, though it may not
always be smooth. For Return, the hero sets out for home. The hero begins the journey
back. In the tale of The Golden Goose, Dummling returns to the king after each task, as
stated, “Dummling asked once more for his bride.” On the other hand, in the tale of The
Princess and the Pea it is not observed.

In Pursuit, the hero is chased. The hero is pursued or faces obstacles on the return
journey. This step is not observed in both tales.

In Rescue, pursuit ends. The pursuit or danger ends. This step is not observed in both
tales.

In Arrival, the hero arrives unrecognized. The hero returns home, but no one recognizes
them. This step is not observed in both tales.

In Claim, a false hero makes unfounded claims. A false hero claims the hero’s
achievements. This step is not observed in both tales.

Following, in Task, a difficult task proposed to the hero. The hero is given a challenge to
prove their worth. In the tale of The Golden Goose, the king gives Dummling several tasks,
such as finding a man to drink a cellarful of wine, as stated, “He must first produce a man
who could drink a cellarful of wine.” On the other hand, in the tale of The Princess and the
Pea it is not observed.

When it comes to Solution, a task is resolved. The hero solves the task. In the tale of
The Golden Goose, Dummling solves the tasks with the help of the old man, as stated,
“Since you have given me to eat and to drink, I will give you the ship.” However, in the tale of
The Princess and the Pea it is not observed.

In Recognition, the hero is recognized. The true identity of the hero is acknowledged. In
the tale of The Golden Goose, Dummling is finally recognized when he completes the tasks,
as stated, “The wedding was celebrated, and after the king’s death, Dummling inherited his
kingdom.”

Also, in the tale of The Princess and the Pea, the princess is recognized as a true
princess. “Nobody but a real princess could be as sensitive as that.”

In Exposure, a false hero is exposed. A false hero is revealed to be a fraud. This step is
not observed in both tales.

For Transfiguration, the hero is given a new appearance. The hero undergoes a
transformation. In the tale of The Golden Goose, Dummling is transformed by his rise in
status as he marries the princess and becomes a king: “After the king’s death, Dummling
inherited his kingdom.” However, in the tale of The Princess and the Pea it is not observed.

For Punishment, the villain is punished. The villain receives their just punishment. This
step is not observed in both tales.

Lastly, in Wedding, the hero marries and ascends the throne The hero is rewarded with
marriage or a position of power. In the tale of The Golden Goose, it ends with Dummling’s
wedding and ascension, as stated, “The wedding was celebrated, and after the king’s death,
Dummling inherited his kingdom.”

While in the tale of The Princess and the Pea, the prince marries the princess. “So the
prince took her for his wife.
Conclusion

To wrap it all up, both “The Golden Goose” and “The Princess and the Pea” exemplify the
elements of Propp’s Morphology of the Folktale, though in different ways. “The Golden
Goose” follows the journey of Dummling, whose kindness in the long run leads him to
fortune and love, demonstrating how generosity can change one’s fate. In contrast, “The
Princess and the Pea” focuses on the quest for authenticity and royal sensitivity, as the
prince seeks a true princess, eventually leading to a marriage based on proven identity. Both
tales illustrate the universal themes of kindness, the search for identity, and the rewards of
overcoming obstacles, showcasing how different paths can lead to similar happy endings.
Moreover, by using the Propp’s Morphology of the Folktale, it helps the readers to
understand the deeper structures and patterns that underlie these seemingly simple fairy
tales. Readers can see how both stories follow similar narrative frameworks, despite having
different characters, themes, and outcomes. This analysis allows readers to recognize
common motifs in folktales, such as the hero’s journey, tests of character, and the eventual
reward of virtue or authenticity. By breaking down the stories into their basic components,
readers gain a greater appreciation for the ways in which these tales convey moral lessons
about the importance of inner qualities like generosity and authenticity, rather than external
appearances or societal status.
References

Author unknown. (n.d.). The Golden Goose [PDF]. Corwin Resources. Retrieved October 11,
2024, from https://resources.corwin.com/sites/default/files/10._golden_goose.pdf

SurLaLune Fairy Tales. (n.d.). The golden goose. Retrieved October 11, 2024, from
https://www.surlalunefairytales.com/a-g/golden-goose/golden-goose-tale.html

LongLongTimeAgo (n.d.). Grimm's Fairy Tales. Retrieved October 11, 2024, from
https://www.longlongtimeago.com/once-upon-a-time/fairytales/grimms-fairytales

Encyclopedia.com. (n.d.). Andersen, Hans Christian (1805–1875). In Children’s literature

academic and educational journals. Retrieved October 11, 2024, from
https://www.encyclopedia.com/children/academic-and-educational-journals/andersen-hans-c
hristian-1805-1875

SurLaLune Fairy Tales. (n.d.). The princess and the pea. Retrieved October 11, 2024, from
https://www.surlalunefairytales.com/h-r/princess-pea/princess-pea-tale.html

Andersen, H. C. (n.d.). The princess and the pea. American Literature. Retrieved October
11, 2024, from
https://americanliterature.com/author/hans-christian-andersen/short-story/the-princess-and-t
he-pea