Plot Analysis Summary
A rebellious prince and a temperamental village girl are drawn together through comic conflict, supernatural intervention, and royal pressure.
Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases
A Prince Avoids His Destiny
The prince rejects his parents' marriage plans and leaves the palace. A fall from his horse leads him to a monk who directs him toward marriage.
Key Events
-
The Prince Rejects Marriage — The ill-tempered prince tries to tame a horse and rejects his parents' demand that he choose a wife.
Location: Royal palace courtyard
-
Seven Princesses Await — Seven princesses wait to dine with the prince, but he leaves rather than consider marriage.
Location: Royal palace
-
The Horse Throws Him — While riding through the countryside, the prince is thrown from his horse and loses it.
Location: Countryside
-
The Flying Monk's Advice — A flying monk tells the prince to find a wife and gives him a donkey and flour for seven dumplings.
Location: Countryside hill
-
A Disputed Horse — The prince finds the girl with his horse, but both accuse the other of being a thief.
Location: Country field
The Village Girl's Defiance
The prince encounters a village girl who claims his horse and refuses his advances. Their quarrel continues as he follows her home and demands dumplings.
Key Events
-
A Disputed Horse — The prince finds the girl with his horse, but both accuse the other of being a thief.
Location: Country field
-
Hiding From Guards — When royal guards approach, the prince forces the girl to hide with him and unsuccessfully tries to kiss her.
Location: Bushes beside the road
-
The Horse Rejects Him — The prince pushes the girl aside and attempts to ride away, but the horse throws him off again.
Location: Country road
-
Seven Dumplings Requested — The prince follows the girl home and demands that she use the flour to make seven dumplings.
Location: Village house
-
The Missing Dumpling — The girl serves only six dumplings, while the prince insists that the missing seventh is essential.
Location: Village house
Buried Beneath the Storm
A missing dumpling inspires the prince's deceptive death performance. The neighbors bury him, and a nighttime storm prompts the girl to search for him.
Key Events
-
The Missing Dumpling — The girl serves only six dumplings, while the prince insists that the missing seventh is essential.
Location: Village house
-
The Prince Plays Dead — The prince pretends to die, making the girl initially believe that she has killed him.
Location: Outside the village house
-
Neighbors Bury Him — The neighbors steal the prince's ring and bury his apparently dead body in a shallow grave.
Location: Village neighborhood
-
The Storm Arrives — A storm arrives at night, causing the girl to worry about the prince and investigate his grave.
Location: Village outskirts
-
The Grave Is Empty — The girl removes the branches and discovers that the prince has disappeared.
Location: Shallow grave
Witches and Forbidden Magic
An old woman brings the girl to witches, who confirm the prince's love and debate magical methods. Their search locates him at a nunnery before magic causes chaos.
Key Events
-
The Grave Is Empty — The girl removes the branches and discovers that the prince has disappeared.
Location: Shallow grave
-
The Witch Offers Help — An old woman tells the girl that she has lost a prince and leads her toward a group of witches.
Location: Village outskirts
-
Witches Debate Love Spells — The witches say the prince loved the girl and argue over two methods for making a man fall in love.
Location: Woods
-
The Prince Is Located — A witch gazes into water and locates the prince at a nunnery.
Location: Woods
-
Magic Disrupts the Search — An owl's scream gives the prince a chill, while magical wind frightens the girl and scatters the witches.
Location: Woods and nunnery
-
The Lock Spell Works — Remembering one spell, the girl places her tongue on a keyhole and physically paralyzes the prince.
Location: Unknown interior
The Heart's Final Choice
A remembered spell temporarily paralyzes the prince. Despite the king's demand that he choose among seven princesses, magical aid leads to love and marriage.
Key Events
-
The Lock Spell Works — Remembering one spell, the girl places her tongue on a keyhole and physically paralyzes the prince.
Location: Unknown interior
-
The Seven-Day Marriage Order — The king orders the prince to choose among seven princesses within seven days and arranges a gathering.
Location: Spanish royal court
-
Love and Marriage Prevail — With help from witches and saints, the girl wins the prince's heart, and they marry.
Location: Royal gathering
