Why the Bear Is Stumpy-Tailed is a Norwegian fairy tale

Fairy tale

A fairy tale is a type of short story that typically features such folkloric characters, such as fairies, goblins, elves, trolls, dwarves, giants or gnomes, and usually magic or enchantments. However, only a small number of the stories refer to fairies...

 collected by Peter Christen Asbjørnsen

Peter Christen Asbjørnsen

Peter Christen Asbjørnsen was a Norwegian writer and scholar. He and Jørgen Engebretsen Moe were collectors of Norwegian folklore...

 and Jørgen Moe

Jørgen Moe

right|thumb|Norske Folkeeventyr Asbjørnsen and Moe Jørgen Engebretsen Moe was a Norwegian bishop and author...

 in Norske Folkeeventyr

Norske Folkeeventyr

Norwegian Folktales is a collection of Norwegian folktales and legends by Peter Christen Asbjørnsen and Jørgen Moe. It is also known as Asbjørnsen and Moe, after the collectors.-Asbjørnsen and Moe:...

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It is Aarne-Thompson type 2, The Tail-Fisher.

Synopsis

A bear sees a fox with fish. The fox tells him to fish by putting his tail into the water. The bear sits so long that his tail is frozen in and he tears it off to escape.

Variants

This tale is widespread, and includes other possible victims, including wolves and rabbits.