“Three Billy Goats Gruff” is a Norwegian fairy tale about three goats who face a major hurdle on their path when they went out grazing. An interesting tale using animal characters, the full story of the Three Billy Goats Gruff is highly relatable to children as they learn how to face tough situations in their daily lives.
Origin And History Of The Three Billy Goats Gruff
The Three Billy Goats Gruff is a short story for children that has its origin in Norvegian Fairy Tales collected by Peter Christen Asbjørnsen and Jørgen Moe in their Norske Folkeeventyr. It was first published between 1841 and 1844. However, the first version of the story of Three Billy Goats Gruff in English as we know it appeared in some of George Webbe Dasent’s translation of the Norske Folkeeventyr. It was first published in English as Popular Tales from the Norse back in 1859.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!
Story Type
The Three Billy Goats Gruff is a moral story that can be read to children at bedtime.
Story Characters
The main characters in this story are the three goats and a troll. The three goats are often described as brothers of various ages, or even son, father and grandfather in various adaptations.
The Three Billy Goats Gruff Story For Children
Once upon a time there were three Billy-Goats Gruff; Little Billy Goat, Young Billy Goat and Great Old Billy Goat, who lived in a field in a green valley.
The three of them loved eating fresh green grass, but sadly their field was now brown and barren because they’d eaten every last piece of grass.
But they were still hungry.
Far away in the distance, they saw a field across the stream that was full of lush sweet scrummy grass. “Let’s go graze in that field!” they exclaimed in excitement, but alas there was only one way to get to it, by crossing a rickety bridge over the stream.
But under the bridge lived a terrifically terrifying terrible troll called Trevor – he was always hungry too. And his favourite food to eat was a nice juicy billy goat. “We need to tread carefully and be as quiet as we can!” said the old Billy Goat, cautioning the others about the troll.
The Little Billy Goat was the first to reach the bridge. Gingerly, he put one hoof and then another onto the bridge and started walking across.
But because the old bridge was so rickety, his hoof still went trip trap, trip trap on the wooden planks of the bridge however hard he tried.
Suddenly there was a huge roar.
“Who’s that trip trapping over my bridge?”
And out from under the bridge rose the big Troll.
Quaking in his hooves, Little Billy Goat Gruff managed to squeak, “It’s only me. I’m only going to look for some grass to eat.”
“Oh no you’re not! I’m going to eat you for my breakfast, lunch and tea!”
‘Oh no!’ said the Little Billy Goat Gruff, completely terrified. “I’m just a little Billy Goat Gruff. Why don’t you wait for my brother? He’s bigger than me and much tastier.”
“Fine, I’ll let you go, and wait for the bigger goat!” the Troll greedily grunted.
So the greedy Troll waited while the Little Billy Goat Gruff crossed the bridge and began to eat the fresh green grass on the other side.
The other goats saw Little Billy Goat Gruff eating the fresh green grass and were jealous because they wanted some too. So young Billy Goat Gruff went down to the bridge and began to cross the stream.
Trip, trap, trip, trap went his hooves. Again the Troll loomed out from under the bridge.
‘Who’s that trip trapping over my bridge?’ he roared.
Quaking in his hooves, Young Billy Goat Gruff managed to say in his softest voice, ‘It’s only me. I’m following my brother, Little Billy-Goat Gruff, so I can eat the sweet grass.’
‘Oh no you’re not! I’m going to eat you for breakfast, lunch and tea!’
‘Oh no, Mr Troll, I am not the one you want to eat. I’m just an average-sized Goat. I’m not big enough to fill you up. Wait until my big brother comes; he’s much bigger and tastier than me.’
‘An even bigger goat! Oh all right,’ said the Troll as he let the young Billy-Goat Gruff go. The goat scampered over the bridge and began to eat the sweet green grass with Little Billy-Goat Gruff.
Big Bold Billy-Goat Gruff was jealous and couldn’t wait to get across the bridge and join his brothers.
So boldly, he put his hooves onto the bridge.
Trip, trap, trip, trap.
Suddenly the Troll loomed out from under the bridge.
‘Who’s that trip trapping over my bridge?’ he boomed.
‘It’s me. Big Billy-Goat Gruff. Who do you think you are?’
‘I’m the Troll and I’m going to eat you for breakfast, lunch and tea!’
‘Oh no, you’re not!’
‘Oh yes I am – you’ll see!’
Then the Troll rushed at Big Billy-Goat Gruff, who bent his head and bravely charged at the Troll, catching him up in his horns and tossing him into the stream below.
The Troll disappeared under the rushing water, never to be seen again.
From then on, anyone could cross the bridge and enjoy the sweet green grass with the Three Billy-Goats Gruff.
Summary Of The Three Billy Goats Gruff Story
Here is the summary of The Three Billy Goats Gruff story
Once upon a time there were three Billy Goats Gruff who decided to go grazing across the stream by crossing a bridge. While crossing the bridge, they came across a Troll who threatened to eat them up. The little goat was able to avoid the Troll’s attack by tempting him to wait for his brother, the young troll. The young troll too was able to avoid the Troll by tempting him to wait for the Big Old goat. Finally, when the Troll threatened to eat up the Big Goat, Big goat defeated him by throwing him off the bridge into the stream. From then, the goats happily grazed the fresh green grass across the stream whenever they liked!
Moral Of The Story
The Moral Of The Story Three Billy Goats Gruff is, “Never be greedy”. In the story, the Troll got greedy about the bigger, tastier Goat and that’s why he let the smaller goats get away. Finally, when he met the biggest Goat, he was taken down by his might. The Troll’s greed led to his downfall and in the end he was left with nothing.
How Can Children Apply The Moral Of The Story In Their Life?
From the short story The Three Billy Goats Gruff, children can learn the importance of not being greedy. It teaches children to be contented and grateful for what they have, rather than taking risks for things they don’t have and want out of greed.
The story with pictures also inspires children to be strong and brave against any circumstances. Just the way the goats tricked the Troll to go find their food, children too can face any situation, big or small, to fulfil their goals in life.
Also Read:
The Two Goats Story for Children
The Story Of The Musical Donkey for Kids
The Dog And The Rabbit Story with Moral for Children
