The Louse and the Flea
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
NameThe Louse and the Flea
Also known asLittle Louse and Little Flea
Aarne–Thompson groupingATU 2022 (An Animal Mourns the Death of a Spouse)
CountryGermany
| The Louse and the Flea | |
|---|---|
| Folk tale | |
| Name | The Louse and the Flea |
| Also known as | Little Louse and Little Flea |
| Aarne–Thompson grouping | ATU 2022 (An Animal Mourns the Death of a Spouse) |
| Country | Germany |
| Published in | Grimms' Fairy Tales |
"The Louse and the Flea" or "Little Louse and Little Flea" (German: Läuschen und Flöhchen) is a German fairy tale collected by the Brothers Grimm, number 30.[1]
It is Aarne-Thompson type 2022, An Animal Mourns the Death of a Spouse,[2] and takes the form of a chain tale, sometimes known as a cumulative tale. Wilhelm Grimm probably heard the story from Dorothea Catharina Wild in 1808.
A louse and a flea are married until the louse drowns while brewing. The flea mourns, inspiring a door to ask why and start creaking, which inspires a broom to ask why and start sweeping—through a sequence of objects until a spring overflows at the news and drowns them all.