The Water Nixie

For the mythological creature, see Neck (water spirit).

"The Water Nixie" or "The Water-Nix" is a fairy tale collected by the Brothers Grimm, tale number 79.^[1] It came from Hanau.^[2]

The Water Nixie
Folk tale
Name	The Water Nixie
Also known as	The Water Nix
Aarne–Thompson grouping	ATU 313A
Country	Germany
Published in	Grimms' Fairy Tales

It is Aarne-Thompson type 313A, the girl helps the hero flee and revolves about a transformation chase.^[3] Others of this type include The Master Maid, Jean, the Soldier, and Eulalie, the Devil's Daughter, The Two Kings' Children, Nix Nought Nothing, and Foundling-Bird. The Grimms noted Sweetheart Roland as an analogue.^[2]

Synopsis

A brother and sister fell into a well, where a nixie caught them and made them work for her. One Sunday while she was at church, they ran away. The nixie chased them. The girl threw a brush, which became a mountain with thousands of spikes, which the nixie got through with great effort. The boy threw a comb behind them, which became mountains with thousands of teeth, which the nixie got through with great effort. The girl threw a mirror behind them, which became a mountain too slick for the nixie to climb. She went back to get an axe, but before she could chop through the mountain, they escaped.

See also

• Children's literature portal

• Farmer Weathersky

References

1. The Water Nixie
2. Jacob and Wilheim Grimm, Household Tales, "The Water-Nix" Notes.^{[dead link‍]}
3. D.L. Ashliman, "The Grimm Brothers' Children's and Household Tales (Grimms' Fairy Tales)"

External links

• SurLaLune Fairy Tale site The Water-Nix