Available Variants
Rumpelstiltskin
Once there was a miller who was poor, but who had a beautiful daughter. Now it happened that he had to go and speak with the King, and in order to make himself appear important he said to him, 'I have a daughter who can spin straw into gold.'
Field Notes
My Folklore Journal
Record your thoughts, motifs you noticed, or personal connections to this tale.
The name 'Rumpelstiltskin' literally means 'little rattle stilt', referring to a type of goblin that makes noise by rattling stilts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Editorial Review
Reviewed by
Dr. Eleanor Vance, Folklore Studies
Last updated
April 1, 2026
Sources & References
- 1.Zipes, J. — The Brothers Grimm: From Enchanted Forests to the Modern World (2002)
- 2.Tatar, M. — The Hard Facts of the Grimms' Fairy Tales (1987)
- 3.Jack Zipes — Fairy Tales and the Art of Subversion (1983)
Community Discussion
I love how this variant emphasizes the role of the magical helper. It's so different from the version I grew up with!
The ATU 510A classification really helps in seeing the structural similarities with Ye Xian. Fascinating stuff.
