"The Road to Hell" (Germany)

From Folktales of Germany (Edited by Kurt Ranke)

Motifs:

Farmer makes a deal with the devil (M211)

Descent into hell (F81)

For seven years 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): A farmer is in a state of poverty. The devil gives him money in return for "what he doesn't know about": his unborn son

a - (misfortune) The boy wants the contract for his soul his father signed

M - (task) The man must not wash for 7 years

T - (transfiguration) The man gradually becomes hideous in appearance

a⁵ - (lack) The king needs money

B - (lack made known) the man is invited to the king (prophesied by hermit)

T - (transformation) Man is cleaned by youngest princess

W - (wedding) Man marries

* - Sisters die (kill themselves)

Total: aaMTa⁵BTW