The Goose Girl
Enjoy the tale of the princess who had to work as a goose girl.Classic Tales is a richly illustrated full-colour English graded readers series that offers classic tales retold for primary language learners. Each story in this new edition is accompanied by e-Books, audio, and Activity Books.
Story Summary
The Princess's Journey Begins
A queen sends her only daughter, a beautiful princess, to marry a prince in a faraway land. She gives the princess a magic talking horse named Falada, a maid for company, and a handkerchief with three drops of the queen’s blood for protection. The princess is sad to leave but excited for her new life. As they ride away, the queen watches them go, hoping for her daughter’s happiness.
The Maid's Betrayal
During the journey, the maid becomes cruel. She refuses to help the princess when she is thirsty and forces her to drink from a stream. The princess loses the magical handkerchief in the water. The maid then threatens to kill the princess unless she gives up her dress, horse, and identity. The princess obeys, becoming the maid, while the maid takes her place as the bride-to-be. They arrive at the castle, where the maid is welcomed as the princess, and the real princess is sent to work as a goose girl.
Falada's Secret
The false princess orders Falada to be killed because the horse can talk and reveal her secret. The real princess, heartbroken, pays the executioners to place Falada’s head above the castle gate. Every day, as she passes by, she speaks to the head, and Falada replies, calling her the "true bride." Kirsten, the other goose girl, finds this strange and complains to the king. Meanwhile, the princess sings to the wind to keep Kirsten away while she brushes her hair.
The King's Discovery
The king, curious about Kirsten’s complaints, hides and watches the goose girl. He sees her talk to Falada’s head and sing to the wind. Later, he asks her for her story, but she is afraid to speak. The king tricks her by suggesting she tell her story to an old cupboard. As she speaks, he listens and learns the truth: she is the real princess, and the maid has stolen her identity. The king promises to help her.
Justice and Happy Ending
The king gathers everyone and tells the maid’s own story back to her. When asked what should happen to such a traitor, the maid unknowingly condemns herself. The king orders her to ride a mad horse, which throws her into the sea. The real princess is reunited with the prince, and they marry. The story ends with the true bride and the prince living happily ever after, while justice is served.
Story Vocabulary Quiz
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Story Quiz
Sue Arengo
A Storyteller for Young Learners of English
Sue Arengo is a British author who writes wonderful stories for children learning English. She has worked with Oxford University Press for over 20 years, creating books that are fun and easy to read. Many of her books are part of graded reader series like Classic Tales, Dominoes, and Oxford Bookworms.
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