Which Grimm fairy tale is tale number 31 in the collection?

Tale number 31 in the Brothers Grimm collection is “The Girl Without Hands.”

The story follows a young woman whose father makes a disastrous bargain with the Devil. After the Devil demands more, the father cuts off his daughter’s hands, but her purity prevents the supernatural power from taking her completely. She leaves home and begins a long journey marked by suffering, separation, and eventual restoration.

The tale was first published in the 1812 edition of the Grimms’ Children’s and Household Tales. The brothers revised it repeatedly, and the version associated with the seventh edition appeared in 1857. It is classified as Aarne–Thompson type 706.

The title can vary in English, including “The Armless Maiden” and “The Helpless Maiden,” which may make identification harder in quizzes. Unlike lighter Grimm stories such as “Snow White,” this tale centers on abuse, disability, coercion, endurance, and recovery. Its themes have inspired literary, theatrical, and cinematic adaptations, including Sébastien Laudenbach’s 2016 animated film.