The tale of the boy who tricked the Devil - Iseult Gillespie

TED-Ed・2 minutes read

A newborn with a lucky birthmark was predicted to marry a princess, leading to the king stealing him away and sending him down the river. Years later, the youth successfully obtained three golden hairs from the Devil's head, solved the villagers' problems, and outsmarted the king by tricking him into relinquishing his task.

Insights

  • The story highlights the theme of destiny and the lengths people will go to control or alter it, as seen through the king's actions to prevent the prophecy from coming true by sending the child on a perilous quest.
  • It showcases the power of wit and resourcefulness over brute force, with the youth using clever tactics to overcome challenges and ultimately outmaneuver the king, emphasizing intelligence as a valuable trait in navigating difficult situations.

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Recent questions

  • What is the story of the golden hairs from the Devil's head?

    A newborn with a lucky birthmark was predicted to marry a princess, leading to the king stealing him away and sending him down the river. Years later, the king encountered the grown child with the birthmark, sending him on a dangerous quest to retrieve three golden hairs from the Devil's head. The youth successfully obtained the hairs, solved the villagers' problems, and tricked the king into relinquishing his task to the ferryman, ultimately outsmarting the king.

  • Who was the main character in the tale of the golden hairs?

    The main character in the tale of the golden hairs was a newborn with a lucky birthmark who was predicted to marry a princess. The king stole him away and sent him down the river, leading to a series of events where the grown child with the birthmark embarked on a quest to retrieve three golden hairs from the Devil's head.

  • What was the king's role in the story of the golden hairs?

    In the story of the golden hairs, the king played a significant role by stealing the newborn with the lucky birthmark and sending him down the river. Years later, the king encountered the grown child with the birthmark and sent him on a dangerous quest to retrieve three golden hairs from the Devil's head. The king's actions set off a chain of events that led to the ultimate outcome of the tale.

  • How did the youth outsmart the king in the story of the golden hairs?

    The youth in the story of the golden hairs outsmarted the king by successfully obtaining the three golden hairs from the Devil's head, solving the villagers' problems, and tricking the king into relinquishing his task to the ferryman. Through his wit and cleverness, the youth was able to outmaneuver the king and emerge victorious in the end.

  • What was the significance of the birthmark in the tale of the golden hairs?

    The birthmark in the tale of the golden hairs was significant as it marked the newborn as the one predicted to marry a princess. This birthmark set off a series of events where the king stole the child and sent him down the river, ultimately leading to the youth's quest to retrieve the three golden hairs from the Devil's head. The birthmark served as a crucial element in the unfolding of the story and the youth's journey to outsmart the king.

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Summary

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"Birthmark prophecy leads to king's downfall"

  • A newborn with a lucky birthmark was predicted to marry a princess, leading to the king stealing him away and sending him down the river.
  • Years later, the king encountered the grown child with the birthmark, sending him on a dangerous quest to retrieve three golden hairs from the Devil's head.
  • The youth successfully obtained the hairs, solved the villagers' problems, and tricked the king into relinquishing his task to the ferryman, ultimately outsmarting the king.
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