The Three Billy Goats Gruff
“The Three Billy Goats Gruff” is a Norwegian folk tale, collected by Asbjørnsen and Moe in their 1841 book of Norwegian folk tales. Three goats need to cross a bridge to reach the sweet grass, but under the bridge lives a troll who wants to eat them. The line “Who's that tripping over my bridge?” has become one of the most famous scenes in all of fairy tales.
Once upon a time, there were three goat brothers: Little, Middle, and Big. They lived in a field where the grass was dry and thin.
Across the rushing river, past the old wooden bridge, there was a meadow. The grass there was green, tall, and sweet.
But under the old wooden bridge lived a troll. He was grumpy and lonely, and he roared at anyone who tried to cross.
Little goat was the first to try. Trip, trap, trip, trap went his little hooves on the wooden bridge.
Middle goat was next. Trip, trap, trip, trap went his hooves, and the troll roared again, but Middle used the same clever trick.
Last came Big goat. Trip, trap, TRIP, TRAP went his big heavy hooves on the old wooden bridge, and the troll roared louder than ever before.
"Then come and fight me!" roared the troll — but Big goat lowered his head and BANG! butted the troll with his strong horns, knocking him SPLASH into the deep river below.
The three goats crossed the bridge and ate the sweet green grass in the meadow all summer long — and the troll never bothered them again.
