Folktales are unique literature: stories passed from generation to generation in a culture. All cultures have folktales. Often as these stories are told and retold, they change slightly. Many folktales originally told by word of mouth are now in written form, and many readers enjoy them. Myths and fairy tales are types of folktales. Folktales told in a culture tell a lot about the beliefs and values of a culture. For instance, Cinderella tells about the dream of rags to riches and about the rewards of being a hardworking, kind person.

America, because it attracted immigrants from many nations, is full of the folktales from many cultures. As people journeyed to America to build railroads, farm the land, and build communities, they added to the rich cultural heritage of our nation.

This is just one example of a folktale from a group of people who journeyed to America. Before you begin to read, discover where this folktale originated. As you read, think about what values and beliefs this folktale teaches. After you read, compare this folktale to others you have read. Is this like some that you know? How?

Before you begin to read:
Try to find the location where this folktale originated.

As you read:
Think about what values and beliefs this folktale teaches.

After you read:
Compare this folktale to others you have read. Is this like some that you know? How?

The Princess and the Glass Mountain–a Scandinavian Tale

There was once a king, who loved nothing better than the hunt. One day, he and his attendants set off into the forest in search of game. As the day continued, the king became frustrated because he failed to find any game at all. Suddenly, out of the forest, came a little ugly man with hair like moss. The king commanded that the wild man be caught and taken to the castle.

That night, the king and his fellow hunters sat bemoaning their lack of success. To cheer up the king, his attendants said, “You may not have found any animals today, but you found a creature, the wild man, the likes of which no one has ever seen before.” The king thought about this and felt a little better; he asked his friends for advice as to what to do with the strange man. After hearing all of the suggestions, the king decided to lock the wild man away. He proclaimed, “Let any person who frees the wild man be killed.” The attendants looked worriedly at one another but said nothing.

The next day, the king ordered a sturdy wooden cell to be built for the wild man. Then, locks were put on the one small window in the cell. Over time people became accustomed to the cell and the wild man who refused to say a word. One day the king left the kingdom to fight in a great war. Before he left, he visited his wife. He said, “Do not let the wild man go.” The queen promised to do her best, and the king sailed away.

The king and queen had a young son. He was a kind and honest boy. One day while playing in the courtyard, the boy accidentally threw an apple into the wild man’s cage. The man threw the apple back and soon a game began between the two. Finally, the wild man refused to throw the apple back. Heartbroken, the boy asked for his apple. The wild man told the boy to go to his mother, sneak her keys to the cage, and free him—then he would get his apple back. The boy followed these directions and soon returned to free the prisoner. As the wild man left, he said to the boy, “If ever you have need, simply call me for I will help you as you have helped me.”

When the king returned he discovered that the wild man had escaped and began an investigation to discover who the culprit was who had freed the prisoner. After many days of investigating, the young prince presented himself to his father and confessed that he had let the man go. Sadly, the king then ordered the prince’s execution. A group of palace guards escorted the boy into the woods with the command to return with the boy’s heart. The guards could not kill the innocent child and instead killed a pig, gathered its heart, and told the boy to run away and never return.

Scared, the young prince did as he was told and ran farther and farther from his old home. Eventually, he came upon a young cattle herder. He exchanged clothes with the boy and continued on his journey. Finally, the disguised prince saw a palace in the distance. He approached it and asked for work. He was given a lowly job and entered the palace. Over time, the boy grew into a strong, brave, handsome young man.

Inside this palace lived a king and queen and their beautiful daughter. The king wanted his daughter to marry but she repeatedly refused. Finally giving in, the princess made this deal with her father, “Find a young man who can ride, fully armored, to the top of the glass mountain to greet me, and I will marry him.” Excitedly, the king set up the challenge. From far and wide brave young men came to meet the challenge, but all failed.

The prince, now known as a lowly worker, watched the challenge sadly for he loved the princess and wished he could marry her himself. Suddenly, from out of nowhere, the wild man appeared. The man gave the prince a great steed and a beautiful set of armor forged of steel. The prince put on the armor, mounted the horse, and rode halfway up the glass mountain. The princess was instantly in love and offered another chance to climb the mountain soon after. Again, many men tried and failed to climb the mountain, but the handsome warrior who had won the princess’s heart did not appear because he sat sadly watching the proceedings. As the day came to an end, the wild man again appeared and this time offered the young man a horse and suit of armor made of the finest silver. This time the man made it nearly to the top of the mountain. A third trial was held, and the same events were repeated. This time, however, the former prince in his golden armor made it to the top of the mountain where he presented the princess with a golden apple.

The two were married and eventually returned to the kingdom from which the prince had been banished. The young man’s parents were thrilled to see him, and his father asked for forgiveness. The prince forgave his father. The prince and his princess lived happily ever after. The wild man was never seen again.