The Lord's Animals and the Devil's
by Brothers Grimm · from Household Tales
Adapted Version
Long, long ago, God was busy. He made big ones and small ones. He made fast ones and slow ones. But he did not make the goat. He made a big grey wolf. The wolf was his helper.
Now, the Trickster was grumpy. He wanted to make things too. So he made goats. He gave them long, long tails. "Ha!" said the Trickster. "My goats are the best!"
But oh no! The goats went for a walk. Their long tails got stuck. Stuck on a bush. Stuck on a fence. Stuck on a tree! The Trickster had to pull hard. He pulled tails free all day.
The Trickster was so mad. He stamped his feet. He snapped his fingers. POP! All the long tails got short. Now the goats had short tails.
Then the goats ran to eat. They ate the flowers. Munch munch munch. They ate the plants. Munch munch munch. "Oh dear," said God. He called the wolf. The wolf ran at the goats. The goats ran away fast!
The Trickster came to God. He was very upset. "Your wolf chased my goats!" He stamped his foot. "Not fair! Not fair!"
"Give me a gift!" he said. "It is not fair!"
God smiled. "I will give you a gift." "But first, all oak leaves must fall." "Each last leaf must fall."
Autumn came. The leaves fell down. The Trickster ran back. "The leaves are gone!" he said. "Give me my gift!"
But God pointed far away. "Look," he said. "That oak still has green leaves."
So the Trickster ran to find it. He looked and looked and looked. He looked for a long time.
And when he came back... It was spring! All the trees had new leaves. No gift for the Trickster! He stamped his feet. God smiled.
The Trickster was so grumpy. He looked at the goats. He waved his hands. SNAP! Now all goats had funny eyes. The eyes looked just like his!
And THAT is why! Goats have short tails. And funny eyes too! Now you know!
Original Story
The Lord's animals and the Devil's
A fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm
The Lord God had created all animals, and had chosen out the wolf to be his dog, but he had forgotten the goat. Then the Devil made ready and began to create also, and created goats with fine long tails. Now when they went to pasture, they generally remained caught in the hedges by their tails, then the Devil had to go there and disentangle them, with a great deal of trouble. This enraged him at last, and he went and bit off the tail of every goat, as may be seen to this day by the stump. Then he let them go to pasture alone, but it came to pass that the Lord God perceived how at one time they gnawed away at a fruitful tree, at another injured the noble vines, or destroyed other tender plants. This distressed him, so that in his goodness and mercy he summoned his wolves, who soon tore in pieces the goats that went there. When the devil observed this, he went before the Lord and said, "Thy creatures have destroyed mine." The Lord answered, "Why didst thou create things to do harm?" The Devil said, "I was compelled to do it: inasmuch as my thoughts run on evil, what I create can have no other nature, and thou must pay me heavy damages." - "I will pay thee as soon as the oak leaves fall; come then, thy money will then be ready counted out." When the oak-leaves had fallen, the Devil came and demanded what was due to him. But the Lord said, "In the church of Constantinople stands a tall oak-tree which still has all its leaves." With raging and curses, the Devil departed, and went to seek the oak, wandered in the wilderness for six months before he found it, and when he returned, all the oaks had in the meantime covered themselves again with green leaves. Then he had to forfeit his indemnity, and in his rage he put out the eyes of all the remaining goats, and put his own in instead.
This is why all goats have devil's eyes, and their tails bitten off, and why he likes to assume their shape.
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Story DNA
Moral
Evil deeds and creations ultimately lead to trouble and can be outsmarted by good.
Plot Summary
The Lord God creates animals, but the Devil creates goats with inconveniently long tails, which he eventually bites off in frustration. When these goats destroy plants, the Lord sends wolves to kill them. The Devil demands compensation for his lost creatures, but the Lord tricks him by promising payment only when all oak leaves fall, knowing one specific oak will retain its leaves. Outsmarted and enraged after a futile search, the Devil replaces the remaining goats' eyes with his own, explaining their distinctive appearance and his affinity for them.
Themes
Emotional Arc
conflict to resolution (with lingering consequences)
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Grimm's fairy tales often collected existing oral traditions, reflecting common European beliefs about good, evil, and natural phenomena.
Plot Beats (15)
- The Lord God creates animals, making the wolf his dog, but forgets the goat.
- The Devil creates goats with long tails.
- The goats' long tails get caught in hedges, forcing the Devil to disentangle them.
- Enraged, the Devil bites off all the goats' tails.
- The Lord God sees the goats destroying plants and sends wolves to kill them.
- The Devil complains to the Lord that his creatures were destroyed.
- The Lord questions the Devil's destructive creations.
- The Devil demands damages, claiming his evil nature compels his creations.
- The Lord promises payment when all oak leaves fall.
- The Devil returns when oak leaves have fallen, demanding payment.
- The Lord reveals a specific oak in Constantinople still has leaves, thus nullifying the condition.
- The Devil, furious, searches for the oak for six months.
- Upon his return, all oaks have regrown their leaves, and he loses his indemnity.
- In a final rage, the Devil puts out the remaining goats' eyes and replaces them with his own.
- The story concludes by explaining why goats have short tails, 'devil's eyes,' and why the Devil takes their form.
Characters
The Lord God ★ protagonist
Not explicitly described, but implied to be a powerful, benevolent, and wise creator.
Attire: Not explicitly described, but culturally implied to be majestic and simple, perhaps white robes.
Benevolent, merciful, wise, just, creator.
Image Prompt & Upload
An ageless androgynous figure with a serene, compassionate expression stands calmly. They have luminous, unblemished skin and long, flowing hair that seems woven from nebulae and starlight. Their eyes are deep, containing swirling galaxies. They are draped in seamless, flowing robes of pure white light that cascade around their form, with subtle patterns of constellations visible within the fabric. Their posture is upright yet relaxed, with one hand gently extended, palm up, as if offering a blessing. A soft, radiant golden halo hovers just behind their head. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Devil ⚔ antagonist
Not explicitly described, but associated with evil and rage. Later puts his own eyes into goats.
Attire: Not explicitly described, but culturally implied to be dark or fiery.
Malicious, cunning, enraged, destructive, vengeful.
Image Prompt & Upload
A sinister figure with crimson red skin and sharp angular features. Two curved horns protrude from his forehead, and a pointed tail curls behind him. He has glowing amber eyes with slit pupils, a sharp goatee, and an expression of cruel amusement. He wears elegant dark robes with gold trim and a high collar, his clawed hands gesturing outward as if offering a deal. His posture is confident and imposing, standing tall with a slight lean forward. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Wolf ◆ supporting
A predatory animal, chosen by the Lord God as his dog.
Attire: Natural fur coat.
Obedient (to the Lord God), predatory, effective.
Image Prompt & Upload
A tall, lean humanoid wolf with sharp, intelligent amber eyes and sleek silver-grey fur. He wears a worn, dark leather vest over a roughspun shirt, with tattered trousers and sturdy boots. His posture is slightly crouched, one clawed hand resting on a gnarled walking stick, the other relaxed at his side. A faint, cunning smirk plays on his muzzle. He stands on a misty forest path at night, dappled moonlight filtering through the trees. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Goat ○ minor
Created with long tails, later had their tails bitten off. Described as gnawing at trees, vines, and plants. Later, all goats have 'devil's eyes'.
Attire: Natural fur coat.
Destructive (to plants), prone to getting caught, later associated with the Devil.
Image Prompt & Upload
An elderly billy goat with a long, flowing white beard and wise, deep-set eyes. He wears a simple, rough-spun brown tunic belted at the waist and patched trousers. His posture is steady and dignified, leaning slightly on a gnarled wooden walking staff. He stands calmly, gazing directly forward with a gentle, knowing expression. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Locations
Pasture with Hedges
A grazing area where goats with long tails frequently get caught in hedges.
Mood: initially troublesome, then destructive
The Devil's goats get their tails caught, leading to the Devil biting them off. Later, the goats destroy vegetation, prompting the Lord to send wolves.
Image Prompt & Upload
A golden hour scene of a vast, rolling pasture bathed in warm, low sunlight. Lush green grass is dotted with white clover and buttercups. Dense, tangled hedges of hawthorn and blackberry form wild, labyrinthine boundaries along the field, their branches thick and intertwined. A winding dirt path cuts through the meadow, leading toward distant, misty hills under a soft peach and lavender sky. Dappled light filters through the hedge leaves, casting long, gentle shadows. The air feels still and serene, with a sense of quiet, pastoral magic. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
The Lord's Presence/Heaven
An unspecified, divine location where the Lord God resides and interacts with the Devil.
Mood: divine, just, authoritative
The Devil complains to the Lord about his creatures being destroyed, and the Lord sets the condition for payment.
Image Prompt & Upload
A vast, ethereal expanse bathed in soft, radiant golden light that seems to emanate from everywhere and nowhere. The sky is a gradient of serene lavender, rose, and pearl, with luminous, cloud-like formations drifting slowly. In the distance, majestic, translucent crystalline spires and arches rise, their surfaces refracting the light into gentle rainbows. Below, a perfectly still, mirror-like lake of liquid silver reflects the celestial architecture and the infinite sky. Gentle, warm mists curl around the bases of the structures and over the water's surface. The atmosphere is one of profound peace, stillness, and divine tranquility, with no harsh shadows, only a pervasive, holy glow. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Church of Constantinople
A specific, grand location where a tall oak-tree stands, miraculously retaining its leaves.
Mood: magical, frustrating for the Devil
The Lord uses this location to trick the Devil out of his payment, claiming an oak there still has leaves.
Image Prompt & Upload
Late afternoon sunbeams pierce through the ancient stained-glass windows of a grand Byzantine church, casting pools of amber and cobalt light across the stone floor. In the center of the vast, hushed nave stands a single, impossibly tall oak tree, its branches heavy with vibrant green leaves, unaffected by the season. Golden light illuminates the intricate mosaic dome above and the tree's rough bark. Floating dust motes and a few stray leaves drift in the still, reverent air. The architecture features soaring arches, marble columns, and walls adorned with faded religious frescoes. The atmosphere is one of serene, miraculous quiet. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration
Wilderness
A vast, untamed area where the Devil wanders for six months in search of the miraculous oak.
Mood: desolate, arduous, frustrating
The Devil's fruitless search for the oak in Constantinople, leading to him missing his payment deadline.
Image Prompt & Upload
Twilight descends over a vast, untamed wilderness under a bruised purple and grey sky. A cold, still mist clings to the ground between twisted, ancient trees with gnarled, grasping roots. The landscape is one of desolate beauty, with endless rolling hills of pale, dry grass and patches of dark, skeletal thickets. In the middle distance, a single, colossal dead oak tree stands stark against the horizon, its bare branches like black veins against the fading light. The air feels heavy and silent, with a faint, sickly yellow glow on the horizon from a hidden moon. Colors are muted and desaturated: ashen greys, deep browns, and the pale, ghostly yellow of dying light. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
