Three Billy Goats Gruff is a famous traditional fairy tale of Norwegian origin, in which three goats cross a bridge, under which is a fearsome troll who tries to prevent them from crossing it. Three Billy Goats Gruff is an 'eat-me-when-I'm-fatter' tale (Aarne-Thompson type 122E). The fairy tale was written down by Asbjørnsen and Moe.

Synposis

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Three billy goats on one side of a stream look at the grass on the other side and notice that it is much "greener." A bridge covering a troll is the only way to cross the river and the three goats cross the bridge one at a time, from the smallest to the largest. The first two goats are captured by the troll, but persuade the troll to let them go on the grounds that they are smaller than the next goat and will make an inferior meal. When the third goat crosses the bridge, the troll attempts to capture it, but it butts the troll into the water and the three goats are free to eat the green grass.

External links

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• SurLaLune website: annotated Three Billy Goats Gruff in the version from Peter Christen Asbjørnsen and Jørgen Moe, Popular Tales from the Norse George Webbe Dasent, translator. Edinburgh: David Douglass, 1888.
• Three Billy Goats Gruff with other regional variations and 122E stories.

Fairy tales | Fictional goats | Scandinavian folklore | 三匹の山羊のがらがらどん