Written By Andrew Lang in 1892

Synopsis

"The Three Musicians," a fairy tale written by Andrew Lang, is about three musicians, a fiddler, a trumpeter, and a flute player, that leave their home looking for somewhere to play their instruments. In a later found village, the musicians overhear a conversation about an enchanted castle with riches and treasures. When they return home, each instrument player is sent to look for the castle, but one of them has a longer trip than the rest because he defeated a "small obstacle" that the other musician could not defeat. This specific musician goes deeper into the castle and discovers various treasures.

These first three photos are the instruments of the musicians, the fiddle/violin, the trumpet, and the flute.

Typical Characteristics

Special Beginning: "The Three Musicians" starts off with

Once upon a time there were three musicians,

(Lang). The special beginning used is once upon a time.

Good Charecter (Protaginist): The protagonist of this story is the flute player (Final Musician).

Evil Charecter (Antagonist): The antagonist of this story is a dwarf with a magical beard and wand who beat the first two musicians.

Royalty and/or Castle: In the story, there were two magical castles. The first castle was discovered by all the musicians. It was very quiet, and it consisted of one room that had a variety of food on a table. The second castle was only discovered by the flute player. It had multiple rooms, and one of them held a sleeping princess and a bird. The only way to reach this castle is to cross a river that could not be crossed without splitting it.

Magic Use/ Something Magical: The dwarf's beard and wand are magical items because

as soon as the youth had the beard in his hands, he felt so strong that he was fit for anything

(Lang). He could see things that had been obscure before. The wand was used to part the river to allow the flute player and dwarf to cross. Both of castles can also be considered magical because they were both put under a magical spell that made everything the dwarf did not want people to see invisible. The bird found in the second castle can be considered magical because its heart awakened the princess who was under an enchanted sleep spell.

Problem: An evil dwarf was keeping the musicians from obtaining the treasure from the castle.

Solution: The flute player takes the dwarf's magical artifacts from him to make him powerless, and he tricks the dwarf into showing him the treasure by telling the dwarf that

[he would] give back [his] beard,

but he actually did not have

no intention of doing so,

(Lang).

3s or 7s: "The Three Musicians" has three musicians, three instruments, three trails, and three main locations.

The Black Forest region is where most German fairy tales, and during the story the musicians went through a forest to reach a castle.

When each musician went inside the castle, they ate pieces of chicken. A german diet consist of cold meats, such as chicken.

Germans are known for their music and music festivals. At the beginning of the story, the musicians were at a music festival playing music. This story is also based around musical instruments.