In a sunny little town, a proud mother showed off her newborn baby boy. The townspeople noticed a special birthmark on him and believed he would one day marry a princess. But when the wicked king heard these rumors, he became angry and decided to get rid of the baby. He sent the child floating down the river, hoping to be rid of him forever. However, the baby’s luck was stronger than the king’s evil plan.
Years later, the king was traveling through his kingdom when he saw a strong young man with a familiar birthmark. Realizing who the boy was, the king came up with a sneaky plan. He gave the boy a letter to deliver to the queen, not telling him that the letter actually ordered his death. That night, some bandits found the boy and read the letter. Feeling sorry for him, they decided to help by writing a new letter instead.
When the boy reached the palace, he met the princess, and they instantly felt a special connection. The queen read the new letter, which said the king approved of their marriage. She was thrilled and quickly arranged a wedding. When the king returned, he was furious but couldn’t harm the boy without a reason. So, he came up with a tricky challenge: the boy had to go to Hell and bring back three golden hairs from the Devil’s head to marry the princess.
The boy traveled far and wide, searching for the entrance to Hell. He finally arrived at a spooky village where the villagers gathered around a dry well. They wouldn’t let him pass until he promised to find out why the well was dry. He agreed to answer when he returned and continued his journey.
Next, he met another group of villagers puzzled by a barren tree. They also demanded an answer before letting him pass. Again, he promised to solve the mystery when he returned. Finally, he reached a dock where an old ferryman asked how he could escape his endless task of rowing. The boy promised to answer when he returned.
At last, the boy arrived at a hut in the swampy lands of Hell. He knocked on the door, and the Devil’s grandmother answered. She was known to help some people and harm others. The boy told her his story just as the Devil was returning home. Quickly, the grandmother hid the boy in her sleeve and welcomed her grandson.
As the Devil ate and drank, he fell asleep. The grandmother skillfully plucked three golden hairs from his head. Each time, the Devil woke up briefly, complaining about dreams of villagers and their problems.
The next morning, the boy left with the three golden hairs and answers to the villagers’ questions. He told the ferryman that he could be free if he handed his oars to someone else. Back at the village, he explained that a mouse was gnawing at the tree’s roots and a giant toad was blocking the well. The villagers were grateful and rewarded him generously.
When the boy returned to the king, he handed over the golden hairs. The greedy king was more interested in the gold than the boy’s success. The clever boy told the king that even more treasure awaited across the river. The king rushed to the riverbank, eager for riches. The ferryman, grinning, handed the king his oars, freeing himself from his endless task.
And so, the boy outsmarted the king, married the princess, and lived happily ever after, proving that cleverness and kindness can overcome even the trickiest challenges.
Draw a story map that outlines the main events of “The Tale of the Boy Who Tricked the Devil.” Include key characters, settings, and the sequence of events. Use arrows to show the flow of the story. This will help you visualize the boy’s journey and understand how he overcame challenges.
Choose a character from the story and act out a scene with your classmates. Focus on how your character feels and reacts to different situations. This activity will help you explore the motivations and emotions of each character, deepening your understanding of the story.
Imagine you are the boy writing a letter to the princess after returning from Hell. Describe your adventures and how you managed to get the three golden hairs. This exercise will help you practice writing from a character’s perspective and expressing thoughts and feelings.
Create a comic strip that illustrates the boy’s quest for the golden hairs. Use drawings and captions to depict the key moments and challenges he faced. This activity will encourage you to think creatively and summarize the story in a visual format.
Discuss with your classmates how the boy solved the problems of the dry well, barren tree, and ferryman. What strategies did he use, and how can these be applied to real-life situations? This discussion will help you develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
In the sun-dappled streets of a small town, a proud mother showed off her newborn son. Upon noticing his lucky birthmark, townsfolk predicted he would marry a princess. But soon, these rumors reached the ears of the wicked king. Enraged, the king stole the child away and sent him down the river. However, the infant’s luck proved greater than the king’s plan.
Years later, the king was traveling his realm when he spotted a strapping young man with an uncanny birthmark. After confirming the child’s origins, the sly king entrusted the boy with a letter for the queen. The youth eagerly set out to deliver the message, unaware he was carrying his own death sentence. That night, roaming bandits stumbled upon his camp. Yet when they read the letter, they were filled with pity. Deciding to make trouble for the king instead, they scribbled a new note.
As soon as the youth arrived at the palace, he locked eyes with the princess, and the two felt destined for each other. When the queen read that the king approved this union, she joyfully organized a whirlwind wedding. When the king returned, he was furious but couldn’t execute his daughter’s beloved without reason. So he devised a diabolical trial, ordering the youth to travel to Hell itself and return with three golden hairs freshly plucked from the Devil’s head. Only upon succeeding could he return to his bride.
The youth searched across the land for the entrance to Hell until he finally reached an eerie village. Here, he saw some villagers gathered around a well. They closed in on the youth, refusing to let him pass until he answered their question: why was the well dry? The youth replied, “I will answer when I return.” They directed him further into town, where he came across another set of villagers contemplating a gnarled tree. They refused to let him pass until he answered their question: why was the tree barren? Again, the youth responded, “I will answer when I return.”
These villagers guided him to the dock, where an elderly ferryman awaited. As he paddled through the black water, the ferryman rasped a third question: how can I escape my interminable task? Once more, the youth promised, “I will answer when I return.” At last, they reached a hut sinking into the swampy banks of Hell. Reluctantly, the youth knocked on the rotting door. The devil’s grandmother answered his call. She was known to help some visiting souls and harm others.
The youth had just finished his story when they heard the devil’s footsteps. Without warning, the boy’s world appeared to shrink. The devil’s grandmother lifted him into the folds of her sleeve and welcomed her grandson. The old woman set to work, lavishing the devil with food and drink. When he fell asleep, she deftly plucked three gleaming hairs from his head. With each plucked hair, the Devil briefly awoke and complained about his dreams, full of nearby villagers and their problems.
The next morning, the youth departed—armed with three golden hairs and three pieces of information. He shared the devil’s first dream with the ferryman. If the boatman could hand his oars to a willing passenger, he would be free from his task. Back at the village, the youth declared that there was a mouse gnawing at the root of the tree and an enormous toad blocking the well. The villagers rewarded him handsomely for his help.
Back from his journey, the youth thrust the devil’s hairs at the king, but his greedy father-in-law only had eyes for the gold. The sly youth told the king that even greater wealth awaited him across the river. Immediately, the king hastened to the riverbank. Eager to claim his riches, he held out his hands impatiently to the grinning ferryman, who happily handed over his oars.
Boy – A young male child – In the story, the boy discovered a hidden treasure in the forest.
Devil – An evil spirit or being, often used as a character in stories to represent evil – The villagers were frightened by the tales of the devil lurking in the dark woods.
Journey – An act of traveling from one place to another, often with a purpose or adventure – The hero’s journey took him across mountains and rivers to find the lost kingdom.
Golden – Having the color or shine of gold; often used to describe something precious or valuable – The princess wore a golden crown that sparkled in the sunlight.
Hairs – Strands that grow from the skin of humans and animals, often used in stories to describe appearance – The witch had long, silver hairs that flowed down her back.
King – A male ruler of a country or territory, often a central character in fairy tales – The king declared a feast to celebrate the return of his long-lost son.
Princess – A daughter of a king or queen, often a character in fairy tales – The princess dreamed of exploring the world beyond the castle walls.
Quest – A long or difficult search for something important, often involving adventure – The knight embarked on a quest to find the legendary sword of power.
Villagers – People who live in a small community or village – The villagers gathered in the square to hear the storyteller’s tales.
Cleverness – The quality of being smart and able to solve problems – The cleverness of the young detective helped solve the mystery of the missing jewels.
