Black Horse

The Three Billy Goats Gruff

In short: Three goats step onto the same bridge. Each time, the troll hears the boards.

The Three Billy Goats Gruff · The troll at the bridge FAIRY TALE ATLAS · № 37 The Three Billy Goats Gruff Three goats step onto the same bridge. Origin Norway · storytelling tradition Atlas record 1914 First appearance Exact date unknown SIGNATURE MOTIF The troll at the bridge Reach¹ 1/10 Suggested age² 8+ Member rating No votes yet 1 records · 1 countries or regions blackhorsestories.com

¹ Based on the number of Atlas countries, capped at 10. ² Editorial suggestion for reading this page. Discover Black Horse’s question

Origin and tradition

Norway · storytelling tradition

In the 1914 collection, the smallest goat crosses first and the middle goat follows. Each puts the troll off by promising a bigger goat behind him. At the third crossing the exchange can no longer work the same way. The arrival of the largest goat breaks the pattern set by the first two.

Dated records and sources

  1. 1914 · Norway · storytelling tradition
    P. C. Asbjørnsen & J. Moe / Kay Nielsen · East of the Sun and West of the Moon

Country pages

Origin
Black Horse. The Three Billy Goats Gruff. https://blackhorsestories.com/en/atlas-tale-billy-goats/