What is rumpelstiltskin?

"Rumpelstiltskin" is a classic fairy tale that originated from German folklore and was popularized by the Brothers Grimm in their collection of stories. The tale revolves around themes of greed, deception, and cleverness. Here's a brief overview of the story:

1. The Miller's Boast: The story begins with a poor miller who boasts to the king that his daughter can spin straw into gold. The king, intrigued by this claim, summons the girl and locks her in a room filled with straw, demanding that she spin it into gold by morning or face dire consequences.

2. The Mysterious Little Man: Desperate to fulfill the king's order, the miller's daughter is visited by a strange little man who offers to help her spin the straw into gold in exchange for something valuable. On the first night, she gives him her necklace, on the second night her ring, and by the third night, she has nothing left to offer. The little man then makes her promise her firstborn child in exchange for his help.

3. The Consequence and Bargain: The girl successfully spins the straw into gold each time and eventually marries the king. When their first child is born, the little man returns to claim his reward. Faced with losing her child, the queen is distraught and begs for another way out.

4. The Challenge: The little man agrees to give up his claim if the queen can guess his name within three days. Despite guessing many names, she is unsuccessful until she overhears the little man singing and chanting his name, "Rumpelstiltskin," near a forest or usually depicted as dancing around a fire in elation over his victory.

5. The Resolution: On the final day, the queen reveals the name "Rumpelstiltskin," much to the little man's shock and anger. In his fury, he runs away, tearing himself in two (or disappearing, depending on the version).

This tale touches on various moral lessons, such as the dangers of making rash promises, the importance of cunning and intelligence over brute strength, and the idea that deceit and greed ultimately lead to one's downfall. Different versions of the story may vary slightly in details, but the core themes remain consistent across adaptations.