Description of the tale
The Three Billy Goats Gruff is a Norwegian fairy tale about three billy goats who want to cross a bridge to reach a green pasture, but they have to face a fearsome troll who lives under the bridge. The first two billy goats trick the troll by telling him to wait for their bigger brother, who can give him a better meal. The third and biggest billy goat fights the troll and defeats him, allowing all three billy goats to cross the bridge and enjoy the grass.
Moral tales
The moral of the tale is that cleverness and courage can overcome a stronger enemy.
Let’s read a fairy tale!
The Three Billy Goats Gruff
Once upon a time there were three billy goats, who were to go up to the hillside to make themselves fat, and the name of all three was “Gruff.”
On the way up was a bridge over a cascading stream they had to cross; and under the bridge lived a great ugly troll , with eyes as big as saucers, and a nose as long as a poker.
So first of all came the youngest Billy Goat Gruff to cross the bridge.
“Trip, trap, trip, trap! ” went the bridge.
“Who’s that tripping over my bridge?” roared the troll .
“Oh, it is only I, the tiniest Billy Goat Gruff , and I’m going up to the hillside to make myself fat,” said the billy goat, with such a small voice.
“Now, I’m coming to gobble you up,” said the troll.
“Oh, no! pray don’t take me. I’m too little, that I am,” said the billy goat. “Wait a bit till the second Billy Goat Gruff comes. He’s much bigger.”
“Well, be off with you,” said the troll.
A little while after came the second Billy Goat Gruff to cross the bridge.
Trip, trap, trip, trap, trip, trap, went the bridge.
“Who’s that tripping over my bridge?” roared the troll.
“Oh, it’s the second Billy Goat Gruff , and I’m going up to the hillside to make myself fat,” said the billy goat, who hadn’t such a small voice.
“Now I’m coming to gobble you up,” said the troll.
“Oh, no! Don’t take me. Wait a little till the big Billy Goat Gruff comes. He’s much bigger.”
“Very well! Be off with you,” said the troll.
But just then up came the big Billy Goat Gruff .
Trip, trap, trip, trap, trip, trap! went the bridge, for the billy goat was so heavy that the bridge creaked and groaned under him.
“Who’s that tramping over my bridge?” roared the troll.
“It’s I! The big Billy Goat Gruff ,” said the billy goat, who had an ugly hoarse voice of his own.
“Now I ‘m coming to gobble you up,” roared the troll.
Well, come along! I’ve got two spears,
And I’ll poke your eyeballs out at your ears;
I’ve got besides two curling-stones,
And I’ll crush you to bits, body and bones.
That was what the big billy goat said. And then he flew at the troll, and poked his eyes out with his horns, and crushed him to bits, body and bones, and tossed him out into the cascade, and after that he went up to the hillside. There the billy goats got so fat they were scarcely able to walk home again. And if the fat hasn’t fallen off them, why, they’re still fat; and so,
Snip, snap, snout.
This tale’s told out.
Check how the children remembered the fairy tale!
- What is the name of all three billy goats?
- A) Gruff
- B) Fluff
- C) Muff
- D) Puff
- Answer: A) Gruff
- What does the troll want to do to the billy goats?
- A) Gobble them up
- B) Play with them
- C) Teach them a lesson
- D) Make friends with them
- Answer: A) Gobble them up
- How does the big billy goat defeat the troll?
- A) He runs away from him
- B) He pokes his eyes out with his horns
- C) He tickles him until he falls off the bridge
- D) He hugs him and makes him cry
- Answer: B) He pokes his eyes out with his horns
Warning
Please note that part of the context in this article has been generated by artificial intelligence (AI). While efforts have been made to provide accurate and reliable information, it is essential to be aware that AI-generated content may not always be 100% accurate or up to date.
