Three Billy Goats Gruff is a Norwegian fairytale collected by Peter Christen Asbjørnsen and Jørgen Moe and first published between 1941 and 1844. It involves three male goats who need to outwit a greedy troll to get over the bridge that leads to their feeding ground. The first English translation appeared in 1859, and the story remains popular today.
What is a billy goat?
A billy goat is a male goat.
The Three Billy Goats Gruff
Once upon a time, three Billy Goats Gruff lived in a valley in the hills. One day, they spotted a grass field on the other side of the valley. The grass looked so sweet and green that they decided to make their way toward it.
The three Billy Goats had to cross a river to reach the field. Unfortunately, there was only one bridge across the river; underneath it lived a terrible, grumpy troll. The troll never let anyone cross the bridge, gobbling them up before they reached the other side.
So the goats came up with a plan. First, the smallest Billy Goat began to walk, and his hooves went ‘trip-trap’ as he crossed the bridge.
Suddenly, a voice erupted from under the bridge. “Who goes trip-trap over my bridge?” growled the troll.
“It’s only me, little Billy Goat Gruff,” responded the smallest goat.
“Then I’m coming to eat you up!” roared the troll.
“Please don’t eat me; I’m much too little,” said the smallest Billy Goat Gruff. “My brother is coming after me. He is much bigger and will make for a better feast.”
“Hmm,” grunted the troll. “Then I will wait for him.”
Next up was the medium-sized Billy Goat Gruff. ‘Trip-trap, trip-trap,’ went his hooves as he walked across the bridge. It awakened the troll.
“Who goes trip-trap over my bridge?” growled the troll from under the bridge. “It’s only me, medium-sized Billy Goat Gruff,” said the goat.
“Then I’m coming to eat you up!” roared the troll.
“Please don’t eat me; I’m much too little,” said the medium-sized Billy Goat Gruff. “My brother is coming after me, and he is bigger than I am.”
The thought of an even larger feast excited the troll. “Then I will wait for him,” he replied.
Finally, it was the turn of the biggest Billy Goat Gruff. ‘Trip-trap, trip-trap,’ went his hooves as he crossed the bridge.
“Who goes trip-trap over my bridge?” growled the troll from under the bridge. “It is I, big Billy Goat Gruff,” said the goat.
“Then I’m coming to eat you up!” roared the troll.
“Oh no, you won’t!” The biggest goat shouted, lowering his horns as he charged at the troll.
Smack! The Billy Goat butted the troll and sent him over the edge of the bridge. The troll fell into the stream and was carried away by the current, making the bridge safe to cross for all creatures.
The three Billy Goats Gruff went over to graze at the rich fields and lived happily ever after.
Facts about the Three Billy Goats Gruff story:
- While several versions of the story remain true to the original, where a family of goats crosses over a bridge, one at a time, each goat is accosted by the mean troll or ogre who lives under the bridge. The first two goats persuade the troll to wait for the next bigger member of the goat family until, finally, the biggest billy goat pushes the troll into the water. After that, the goat family can eat th
- There are different endings to the story. In some versions, the biggest billy goat kills or injures the troll rather than just pushing him off the bridge and into the water.
- Female goats are called does or nannies, males are called bucks or billies, and baby goats are called kids.
- Most breeds of goat, both male, and female, grow horns.
- Both male and female goats can grow beards under their chins.
- Trolls often appear in traditional tales. They’re mythical creatures that often appear in Scandinavian and Norse mythology.
- Trolls are often depicted as human-like creatures with unpleasant characteristics. •
- It’s common for trolls to live under bridges, in caves, on mountains, or isolated islands.
What is the meaning of Three Billy Goats Gruff?
One moral to take from the story is not to be greedy. The troll passes on two opportunities to eat because of his greed, and he’s ultimately punished when the biggest goat overpowers him.
More stories like Three Billy Goats Gruff:
- The Princess and the Pea
- Goldilocks and the Three Bears
- Rumpelstiltskin
- Little Red Riding Hood
- The Ugly Duckling
- Hansel and Gretel
