"The Three Traveling Artisans" (Germany)

From Folktales of Germany (Edited by Kurt Ranke)

Motifs:

Artisans makes a deal with the devil (M211)

Riddle posed

Secrets overheard (N450ff)

Speech constrained

Innocent persons accused of murder (K2116)

For a year he must not wash or comb himself (C721.1 & C723.1)

He marries the youngest of three princesses (L54.1)

The elder two made sport of him (Q2)

The elder sisters kill themselves

Proppean analysis:

a- (Initial Situation): Three artisans are looking for work

M - (task) The artisans must guess what a tablecloth, cup, and pot really are

N - (task resolved) Tailor overhears devil give the answer

--- End move 1

M - (task) Artisans must travel and can only say "Fill the glass for the money; that's all right"

N - (task accomplished) the artisans are pardoned from the gallows at the last second

--- End move 2

M - (task) Tailor must wear a burlap sack and not wash for a year

a⁵ - (lack) king lacks money

K - (lack liquidated) Tailor will pay the king's debts for one of his daughters

N - (task accomplished) time expires

W - (wedding) Tailor marries

* - Sisters die (kill themselves)

Total: aMN MN Ma⁵KNW