Skip to content
Rumanian Bird and Beast Stories Rendered into EnglishOpenStories

Rumanian Bird and Beast Stories Rendered into English

by OpenStories

CompletedPublished Updated

"Rumanian Bird and Beast Stories Rendered into English" by M. Gaster is a collection of folklore tales written in the early 20th century. This work delves into the rich imaginative landscape of Rumanian folklore, weaving in various fables and legends primarily centered around animals and their mythical origins. Characterized by a lyrical quality, the stories explore themes of creation, anthropomorphism, and the natural world's interplay with human existence. At the start of the collection, the author expresses his reverence for the Rumanian folklore tradition, emphasizing the simplicity and beauty of its narratives. He captures a world where animals display unmistakable human attributes and speaks volumes about the folk's wisdom and perceptions of nature. The preface sets the stage for a series of tales that not only entertain but also provoke deeper reflection on the relationship between humans and animals, echoing the time-honored human curiosity to explain the peculiarities of the natural world. Gaster's introduction of magical realism suggests that these stories are more than mere fables; they are steeped in cultural significance, reflecting the collective beliefs and teachings of the Rumanian people.

Rumanian Bird and Beast Stories Rendered into English, from the public domain. Republished by OpenStories from Project Gutenberg eBook #43059.

  • 105,732words
  • 139chapters
  • 0stars
  • 0bookmarks
  • 0hits
Start reading

139 Chapters

  1. 1.Chapter M: GASTER, Ph.D80 words
  2. 2.Preface1,643 words
  3. 3.Introduction (1)8,905 words
  4. 4.Introduction (2)8,809 words
  5. 5.Introduction (3)3,351 words
  6. 6.Chapter I2,378 words
  7. 7.Chapter II484 words
  8. 8.Chapter III669 words
  9. 9.Chapter IV: Why Does the Little Worm Glow?591 words
  10. 10.Chapter V: Why Does the Little Worm Glow?281 words
  11. 11.Chapter VI: Why Does the Little Worm Glow?897 words
  12. 12.Chapter VII: Why Is the Wolf Ferocious?940 words
  13. 13.Chapter VIII441 words
  14. 14.Chapter IX: Why Does the Wolf Run After the Devil?382 words
  15. 15.Chapter X: Why the Goat's Knees Are Bare1,315 words
  16. 16.Chapter XI: Why DID Noah Get Drunk?1,358 words
  17. 17.Chapter XII: God and the Lamb228 words
  18. 18.Chapter XIII: The Hart and the Making of the World311 words
  19. 19.Chapter XIV: Why Is the Fly Called the Devil's Horse?553 words
  20. 20.Chapter XV: The Devil Stealing the Sun584 words
  21. 21.Chapter XVI: Why Is It Called the Bull-Fly?472 words
  22. 22.Chapter XVII: Why Is the Saw-Fly Red?1,108 words
  23. 23.Chapter XVIII: Why Does the Saw-Fly Live in Stables?397 words
  24. 24.Chapter XIX: Why Is the Lady-Bird Dainty?1,228 words
  25. 25.Chapter XX: Why Does the Gad-Fly Sting the Cattle?963 words
  26. 26.Chapter XXI1,252 words
  27. 27.Chapter XXII: Why Is There a Worm in the Apple?638 words
  28. 28.Chapter XXIII: Why Are the Locusts Voracious?786 words
  29. 29.Chapter XXIV: Why Does the Grasshopper Run to and Fro?456 words
  30. 30.Chapter XXV: Another Story of the Grasshopper195 words
  31. 31.Chapter XXVI: Why Does the Nun Beetle Cover Its Face?1,192 words
  32. 32.Chapter XXVII: Why Is the Beetle Called the Nun?189 words
  33. 33.Chapter XXVIII: Why Is the Wasp the Gipsies' Bee?714 words
  34. 34.Chapter XXIX307 words
  35. 35.Chapter XXX: Why Is the Hornet So Spiteful?332 words
  36. 36.Chapter XXXI496 words
  37. 37.Chapter XXXII767 words
  38. 38.Chapter XXXIII499 words
  39. 39.Chapter XXXIV: Why Has the Nightingale a Drab Colour?164 words
  40. 40.Chapter XXXV347 words
  41. 41.Chapter XXXVI623 words
  42. 42.Chapter XXXVII: Why Does the Thrush Hide in the Tree?331 words
  43. 43.Chapter XXXVIII: Why Has the Partridge a Mottled Colour?239 words
  44. 44.Chapter XXXIX445 words
  45. 45.Chapter XL337 words
  46. 46.Chapter XLI: Why Does the Hoopoe Feed on Droppings?215 words
  47. 47.Chapter XLII247 words
  48. 48.Chapter XLIII: Why Is the Hoopoe Such a Dirty Bird?461 words
  49. 49.Chapter XLIV1,107 words
  50. 50.Chapter XLV: Why Is the Cuckoo Silent in the Winter?441 words
  51. 51.Chapter XLVI379 words
  52. 52.Chapter XLVII1,037 words
  53. 53.Chapter XLVIII321 words
  54. 54.Chapter XLIX: Why Does the Kite Cry in Dry Weather?311 words
  55. 55.Chapter L208 words
  56. 56.Chapter LI: Why Has the Tortoise a Round Back?494 words
  57. 57.Chapter LII: Why Have the Fish No Feet?156 words
  58. 58.Chapter LIII: Why Do the Plover Fly Singly?87 words
  59. 59.Chapter LIV: Why Does the Spider Hang on a Thread?1,143 words
  60. 60.Chapter LV526 words
  61. 61.Chapter LVI: Why Does the Frog Shrivel Up at Death?342 words
  62. 62.Chapter LVII789 words
  63. 63.Chapter LVIII: Why Is It Right to Kill a Sparrow?192 words
  64. 64.Chapter LIX: Why Should the Oak Tree Not Boast?823 words
  65. 65.Chapter LX: Why Does the Mosquito Live in the Well?362 words
  66. 66.Chapter LXI: Why Does the Mosquito Feed on Blood?377 words
  67. 67.Chapter LXII: Why Does the Fly Eat the Cherry?136 words
  68. 68.Chapter LXIII400 words
  69. 69.Chapter LXIV: Why Does the Cricket Chirp?265 words
  70. 70.Chapter LXV: Why Do the Ants Feed the Cricket?446 words
  1. 71.Chapter LXVI: Why Do Cats and Dogs Fight?693 words
  2. 72.Chapter LXVII: Why Do Cats Eat Mice?974 words
  3. 73.Chapter LXVIII305 words
  4. 74.Chapter LXIX: Why Does the Fly Settle on the Dead?298 words
  5. 75.Chapter LXX: Why Is the Foot of Man Arched?629 words
  6. 76.Chapter LXXI777 words
  7. 77.Chapter LXXII633 words
  8. 78.Chapter LXXIII: Charms Against Bugs469 words
  9. 79.Chapter LXXIV: Why Does the Cuckoo Call "cuckoo"?837 words
  10. 80.Chapter LXXV: Why Does a Wagtail Wag Its Tail?237 words
  11. 81.Chapter LXXVI: Why Has the Hoopoe a Tuft?407 words
  12. 82.Chapter LXXVII: Why Does the Eagle Live on Raw Meat?1,847 words
  13. 83.Chapter LXXVIII: Why Has the Lark a Tuft?583 words
  14. 84.Chapter LXXIX: Why Is the Tuft of the Lark Dishevelled?477 words
  15. 85.Chapter LXXX: Why Do Larks Fly Towards the Sun?1,730 words
  16. 86.Chapter LXXXI: The Wooing of the Sister of the Sun323 words
  17. 87.Chapter LXXXII: The Wooing of a Fairy390 words
  18. 88.Chapter LXXXIII: Where DID the Swan Come From?2,385 words
  19. 89.Chapter LXXXIV690 words
  20. 90.Chapter LXXXV: Why Does the Duck Feed on Refuse?1,227 words
  21. 91.Chapter LXXXVI: Why Has the Stork No Tail?1,229 words
  22. 92.Chapter LXXXVII2,646 words
  23. 93.Chapter LXXXIX: Why Is the Dove a Homing Bird?1,099 words
  24. 94.Chapter XC: Why Does the Raven Feed on Carrion?877 words
  25. 95.Chapter XCI: Why Is the Ant Cut in the Middle?897 words
  26. 96.Chapter XCII: Why Does the Cuckoo Call "cuckoo"?1,188 words
  27. 97.Chapter XCIII397 words
  28. 98.Chapter XCIV1,332 words
  29. 99.Chapter XCV644 words
  30. 100.Chapter XCVI924 words
  31. 101.Chapter XCVII213 words
  32. 102.Chapter XCVIII: Why Does the Wren Hide Himself?714 words
  33. 103.Chapter XCIX: Why Is There No King Over the Birds?423 words
  34. 104.Chapter C: The Story of King Log and King Stork317 words
  35. 105.Chapter CI349 words
  36. 106.Chapter CII: The Story of the Flea and the Gnat172 words
  37. 107.Chapter CIII838 words
  38. 108.Chapter CIV: The Story of the Gnat and the Buffalo199 words
  39. 109.Chapter CV652 words
  40. 110.Chapter CVI: The Story of the Hare and the Frogs197 words
  41. 111.Chapter CVII337 words
  42. 112.Chapter CVIII: The Story of the Pointer and the Setter163 words
  43. 113.Chapter CIX427 words
  44. 114.Chapter CX425 words
  45. 115.Chapter CXI779 words
  46. 116.Chapter CXII558 words
  47. 117.Chapter CXIII432 words
  48. 118.Chapter CXIV994 words
  49. 119.Chapter CXV: The Marriage of Tom and the Vixen1,220 words
  50. 120.Chapter CXVI: The Story of Man and His Years978 words
  51. 121.Chapter CXVII560 words
  52. 122.Chapter CXVIII: The Pilgrimage of the Soul After Death1,270 words
  53. 123.Chapter CXIX: The Reward of the Good Man270 words
  54. 124.Appendix: I441 words
  55. 125.Chapter I: Against the Illness of Poultry585 words
  56. 126.Chapter VI: Charm Against Evil Eye318 words
  57. 127.Chapter VIII: Against Worms720 words
  58. 128.Appendix: III65 words
  59. 129.Chapter I116 words
  60. 130.Chapter II456 words
  61. 131.Chapter III: Why Has the Ox No Hair on His Nose?86 words
  62. 132.Chapter IV273 words
  63. 133.Chapter V144 words
  64. 134.Chapter VI: Why Does the Dog Fight the Cat?667 words
  65. 135.Chapter VII60 words
  66. 136.Chapter VIII268 words
  67. 137.Chapter IX: Why Does the Raven Hop in Its Walk?135 words
  68. 138.Chapter X372 words
  69. 139.Chapter XI1,453 words