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The Six Swans

From Grimm's Fairy Stories, by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm

Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm collected and published hundreds of folk tales from the German-speaking lands in the early nineteenth century, and this tale is among their most beloved. This text reflects its era; a few period terms have been modernised. The story of the silent sister who labours six years to save her enchanted brothers is remembered for its test of love, patience and sacrifice — and for the unforgettable image of the swans at the scaffold. It rewards a reader who can follow motive, consequence and the turning points that decide a character's fate, and it asks the child to think about the cost of loyalty.

Band

Green · Independent readers, earlyTypical starting range: ages 9–11

Length

long · about 866 words in 6 sections · 3 pictures

Source

Grimm's Fairy Stories, Jacob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm

First published

see the About page in the reader

Regions

Canada · United States

Included formats

• · Web reader and PDF
• · EPUB for e-readers
• · Home-print sheet
• · Folded booklet
• · Binder edition (8.5 × 11)
• · Worksheet
• · Quick Check (9 questions) with answer key
• · Read-aloud script
• · Teacher’s Edition (members)

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