Rumpelstiltskin Research Paper

I chose to write about Rumpelstiltskin for the Fairytale symbolism because I found this particular fairy tale to be intriguing not only because it's one of the most well known fairy tales, but also because the entire story is laced with symbolism. Starting with the name, Rumpelstiltskin, which means little rattle stilt such as a little goblin in German. Though the average reader of this tale wouldn't know this, German children and parents alike would hear this name and immediately picture specific physical attributes to the demon like character. A brief summary of the fairy tale consists of a poor miller who shells his daughter out to the king claiming she can spin straw into gold for his own fast material gain. The king is intrigued and takes
Let alone that his name, Rumpelstiltskin means little gremlin, at one point when the creature gets so angry, he rips himself in half down the center of his body which is clearly, extremely creepy and demonic. Also in this fairy tale, there is much repetition of the number three, which is very common among fairy tales. Three days to spin the gold, using specific words three times in a row, as well as Rumpelstiltskin giving the Queen three days to figure out what she shall do once her child is born. In many German fairy tales include the concept of finding out the antagonist's name. For whatever reason in this culture, they feel that if you know the evil being's name, it's as though the evils are longer as frightening, threatening or powerful. This is also present in this fairy tale being as he states, "if by then you know my name, then you shall keep your child." Once the Queen states his name, Rumpelstiltskin becomes so angry that he demonically rips himself down the middle. I believe that the moral of this story is to value something living such as life, over material wealth which is noticed by the little man, Rumpelstiltskin, as he is not concerned for material gain as are the miller and the King. The King didn't care for his Queen out of love, but out of material gain. As well as the miller, who had no problem throwing his daughter to a cruel King strictly for