Beschrijving
The Donkey (Asinarius). After a royal couple have long wished for children, the queen finally gives birth to a donkey. Raised as a human, he learns courtly customs and how to sing and play the lyre (harp, etc.) [D963].
On the day when he first sees a reflection of his face, he runs away accompanied by a servant. In a foreign country he entertains the king’s court with his musical talents. He meets the king’s daughter and is charmed by her beauty.
When the donkey wants to return home, the king tries to prevent him by offering him his daughter in marriage [B641.4]. On the wedding night the donkey takes off his skin and turns into a handsome prince. A servant who observes this tells the king, who burns up the skin on the following night [D721.3]. The prince, unable to become a donkey again, wants to flee, but the king stops him and gives him part of his kingdom. Cf. Type 425A.
On the day when he first sees a reflection of his face, he runs away accompanied by a servant. In a foreign country he entertains the king’s court with his musical talents. He meets the king’s daughter and is charmed by her beauty.
When the donkey wants to return home, the king tries to prevent him by offering him his daughter in marriage [B641.4]. On the wedding night the donkey takes off his skin and turns into a handsome prince. A servant who observes this tells the king, who burns up the skin on the following night [D721.3]. The prince, unable to become a donkey again, wants to flee, but the king stops him and gives him part of his kingdom. Cf. Type 425A.
Motief
D963
B641.4
D721.3
Commentaar
From a versified novella from southern Germany of ca. 1200, which was much read in courtly circles. The donkey with human sensibilities is traced to the ancient novelle of Pseudo-Lucian and Apuleius. Prose versions were popularized by the Grimms’ text. Oral versions are often so much abbreviated that they are difficult to distinguish from Type 425A.
Oorspronkelijk Verhaaltype
430
Subgenre
sprookje