Three of the four stories we read this week contained variations on the Tests of Three trope. In these stories we find:
- Character Test
- Inheritance Test
- Marry the Princess Test
All in sets of three.
All involving three brothers, the youngest being called a Simpleton who comes out ahead of his scorning, lazy, selfish brothers.
The Queen Bee
First, the three brothers are given three character tests in which the youngest brother prevents the older two from causing trouble. He keeps them from:
- destroying the anthill
- roasting the ducks
- suffocating the bees and taking their honey
These temptations are followed by three tests written on a stone tablet that will break the curse of the enchanted castle.
The youngest brother who kept the various creatures from harm is then helped by these same creatures in very specific ways to save him from being turned to stone and help him break the curse.
- pick up scattered pearls,
- fetch a key to the bedroom from the bottom of the lake,
- choose the youngest of identical princesses
We’ve read a few stories like this and its hard to not roll my eyes at the pattern. The character tests are so random, yet so specific to solve the exact problem later in the story.
The Three Feathers
The three princes in this story are not given a character test first before they are tested to see who shall inherit the kingdom. Instead, we are shown their characters by how they respond to the inheritance tests. In all, they need to:
- Bring back the finest carpet,
- Bring back the most beautiful ring,
- Bring back the most beautiful woman in the world.
Surprising his brother, the youngest (with help from a group of toads) accomplishes the tasks.
A bonus test is given to prove the worth of the woman. A last ditch attempt by the older, lazy brothers to win, but the youngest brother’s woman is able to jump through the hoop. Literally. This bonus test was a nice break in the pattern, although still a blatant set-up given the woman had formerly been a toad!
The Golden Goose
Again, we have three sons being tested, and the third passes the initial character test by offering what little food and drink he had to an old dwarf, whom his brothers had shunned.
When the Test of Three begins in order to marry the princess, the youngest son goes back to the dwarf for help in obtaining:
- A man who could drink a cellar full of wine,
- A man who could eat a mountain of bread,
- A ship that could sail on land.
The dwarf tells him he does all this for him because the youngest son had been kind to him.
Again, these challenges are rather random, and the dwarf seems to be able to become anything needed to fit the story.
While it’s important to plant the solution to the problems early on, often in these tests of three, the plot device comes off as mechanical, and not organic to the story. So, warning to modern-day writers. Don’t make the build up so obvious. Surprise the reader with your tests by sneaking them more naturally into your stories.
