Grade 6 Reading Comprehension Worksheet The Wonderful Musician: Jacob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm Read the story: Then answer the questions: There was once a wonderful musician, and he was one day walking through the wood all alone. He said to himself, “I will bring out a good companion.” So he fiddled so that the wood echoed. A wolf came up to him. “Oh, wolf?” said the musician, “How finely you play! I must learn how to play too.” “That is easily done,” answered the musician. “You have only to do exactly as I tell you.” “I will obey you,” said the wolf. They came to an old oak tree, which was cleft through the middle. “Look here,” said the musician, “if you want to learn how to fiddle, you must put your feet in this cleft.” The wolf obeyed, but he took up a stone and wedged both his paws so that the wolf was a prisoner. After a while, he said to himself, “I will bring out another companion,” and fiddled away in the wood. This time a fox came. “Oh, fox!” said the musician. The fox said, “Oh musician, how finely you play! I must learn how to play too.” “That is easily done,” said the musician. “You have only to do exactly as I tell you.” “Oh musician,” answered the fox, “I will obey you.” So as they came to a footpath with high hedges on each side, the musician took hold of a hazel branch, bent it down to the earth, and said, “Little fox, if you wish to learn something, reach your left foot.” The fox obeyed. When the knots were fast enough, he let go and the fox started shaking and struggling in the air. The wolf, meanwhile, had struggled and got himself out of the cleft. Full of anger, he hastened after the musician to tear him to pieces. The fox cried out, “Brother Wolf, help me! The musician has betrayed me.” The musician had again played his fiddle, and a woodcutter with his axe under his arm came to listen to the music. “It was a man I wanted, and not wild animals,” said the woodcutter. And then he began to play so sweetly that the poor man’s heart was filled with joy. And there came the wolf and the fox. Then the woodcutter raised his shining axe and stood in front of the musician. Then the animals ran back into the wood, and the musician played once more to the man to show his gratitude. Answer each question: 1. What did the musician say to himself? 2. Who did come first and what did the musician do with him? 3. When did the musician fiddle and who came out next? 4. What did the musician do with the fox? 5. How did the wolf and the fox get themselves out? 6. Who came last when the musician fiddled? Copyright wnuttenglishlink.com
Grade 6 Reading Comprehension Worksheet The Wonderful Musician: Jacob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm Read the story: Then answer the questions: There was once a wonderful musician, and he was one day walking through the wood all alone. He said to himself, “I will bring out a good companion.” So he fiddled so that the wood echoed. A wolf came up to him. “Oh, wolf?” said the musician, “How finely you play! I must learn how to play too.” “That is easily done,” answered the musician. “You have only to do exactly as I tell you.” “I will obey you,” said the wolf. They came to an old oak tree, which was cleft through the middle. “Look here,” said the musician, “if you want to learn how to fiddle, you must put your feet in this cleft.” The wolf obeyed, but he took up a stone and wedged both his paws so that the wolf was a prisoner. After a while, he said to himself, “I will bring out another companion,” and fiddled away in the wood. This time a fox came. “Oh, fox!” said the musician. The fox said, “Oh musician, how finely you play! I must learn how to play too.” “That is easily done,” said the musician. “You have only to do exactly as I tell you.” “Oh musician,” answered the fox, “I will obey you.” So as they came to a footpath with high hedges on each side, the musician took hold of a hazel branch, bent it down to the earth, and said, “Little fox, if you wish to learn something, reach your left foot.” The fox obeyed. When the knots were fast enough, he let go and the fox started shaking and struggling in the air. The wolf, meanwhile, had struggled and got himself out of the cleft. Full of anger, he hastened after the musician to tear him to pieces. The fox cried out, “Brother Wolf, help me! The musician has betrayed me.” The musician had again played his fiddle, and a woodcutter with his axe under his arm came to listen to the music. “It was a man I wanted, and not wild animals,” said the woodcutter. And then he began to play so sweetly that the poor man’s heart was filled with joy. And there came the wolf and the fox. Then the woodcutter raised his shining axe and stood in front of the musician. Then the animals ran back into the wood, and the musician played once more to the man to show his gratitude. Answer each question: 1. What did the musician say to himself? 2. Who did come first and what did the musician do with him? 3. When did the musician fiddle and who came out next? 4. What did the musician do with the fox? 5. How did the wolf and the fox get themselves out? 6. Who came last when the musician fiddled? Copyright wnuttenglishlink.com
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Answers:
- What did the musician say to himself?
“I will bring out a good companion.” - Who did come first and what did the musician do with him?
A wolf came first. The musician tricked the wolf by asking him to put his paws into the cleft of a tree and then wedged them with a stone, trapping the wolf. - When did the musician fiddle and who came out next?
After trapping the wolf, the musician fiddled again, and a fox came next. - What did the musician do with the fox?
He tricked the fox by tying one of its feet to a bent hazel branch. When the knots were tight, the branch sprang up, leaving the fox dangling and struggling. - How did the wolf and the fox get themselves out?
The wolf struggled and freed himself from the cleft in the tree. The fox was still trapped and cried for help, but they eventually both got free and chased the musician. - Who came last when the musician fiddled?
A woodcutter came last when the musician fiddled.
Explanation
“The Wonderful Musician” by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm is a folk tale that teaches a subtle lesson about wit, trust, and intention. The story follows a wandering musician who uses his fiddle to summon companions from the woods. His goal, however, is not companionship with animals, but rather a connection with a fellow human.
At first, he fiddles and attracts a wolf. Though the wolf eagerly wants to learn the art of fiddling, the musician deceives him and traps him in a tree. This reveals the musician’s cunning and shows that he is not looking for just any company. When he plays again, a fox appears, also wanting to learn. The musician tricks the fox too, tying him to a branch and leaving him dangling.
This repeated pattern of betrayal shows the musician’s cleverness and determination to avoid danger from wild animals. Eventually, the wolf escapes and finds the fox, and both try to get revenge. At this critical moment, the musician fiddles once more, attracting a woodcutter—an actual human companion. The woodcutter’s presence protects the musician, as he scares off the animals with his axe.
The story’s moral is about being careful whom you trust and the value of choosing the right companions. The musician uses his talents wisely, protecting himself with clever tricks and eventually gaining the kind of company he desired. Though it may seem unkind, the musician’s actions reflect the caution one must use in an unpredictable world. His final act of playing gratefully for the woodcutter also highlights the importance of kindness and appreciation toward those who truly help us.
