The Three Billy Goats Gruff
Three billy goats named Gruff must cross a bridge to reach the green hillside, but a great ugly Troll lives underneath and wants to gobble them up. The two smaller goats send him waiting for a bigger brother, and the big Billy Goat Gruff butts the Troll right off the bridge into the river.
Scene 1: Up to the Hillside
The Three Billy Goats Gruff. Once upon a time, there were three billy goats, and the name of all three was Gruff. They were going up to the hillside to make themselves fat. On the way up was a bridge over a river, and they had to cross it. And under the bridge lived a great ugly Troll, with eyes as big as saucers and a nose as long as a poker.
Scene 2: Trip, Trap!
First of all came the youngest Billy Goat Gruff to cross the bridge. Trip, trap! Trip, trap! went the bridge. The Troll roared: “Who’s that tripping over my bridge?” The little goat answered in such a small voice: “Oh, it is only I, the tiniest Billy Goat Gruff. I’m going up to the hillside to make myself fat.” The Troll said: “Now, I’m coming to gobble you up!” The little goat cried: “Oh, no! Pray don’t take me. I’m too little, that I am. Wait a bit till the second Billy Goat Gruff comes. He’s much bigger.” The Troll grumbled: “Well! Be off with you.”
Scene 3: The Second Billy Goat
A little while after, the second Billy Goat Gruff came to cross the bridge. Trip, trap! Trip, trap! Trip, trap! went the bridge. The Troll roared: “Who’s that tripping over my bridge?” The second goat answered, and his voice was not so small: “Oh, it’s the second Billy Goat Gruff. I’m going up to the hillside to make myself fat.” The Troll said: “Now, I’m coming to gobble you up!” The second goat said: “Oh, no! Don’t take me. Wait a little till the big Billy Goat Gruff comes. He’s much bigger.” The Troll grumbled: “Very well! Be off with you.”
Scene 4: The Big Billy Goat Gruff
But just then, up came the big Billy Goat Gruff. TRIP, TRAP! TRIP, TRAP! TRIP, TRAP! went the bridge. He was so heavy that the bridge creaked and groaned under him. The Troll roared: “Who’s that tramping over my bridge?” The big goat answered, in a big, hoarse voice: “It’s I! The big Billy Goat Gruff!” The Troll roared: “Now, I’m coming to gobble you up!”
Scene 5: Into the River
The big goat said: “Well, come along! I’ve got two spears!” His spears were his two big, strong horns. So he flew at the Troll and butted him with his horns. Bump! Off the bridge went the Troll. Splash! Down into the river he fell, and the river carried him away.
Scene 6: Snip, Snap, Snout
Then the big Billy Goat Gruff went up to the hillside. There the billy goats got so fat that they were scarcely able to walk home again. And if the fat hasn’t fallen off them, why, they are still fat. And so: Snip, snap, snout, this tale’s told out.
Moral: Small ones can be clever, and big ones can be brave — together they get where they are going.
Questions about The Three Billy Goats Gruff
Where were the three billy goats going?
Up to the hillside to make themselves fat.
What did the Troll's eyes look like?
As big as saucers.
What sound did the bridge make when the goats crossed it?
Trip, trap!.
What did the tiniest goat tell the Troll to do?
Wait for the second Billy Goat Gruff, who was much bigger.
What were the big goat's two spears?
His two big, strong horns.
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- The Lion and the Mouse — A Lion catches a little Mouse but laughs and lets her go when she promises to repay him.