In this literary fairy tale by Wilhelm Hauff, a sixteen-year-old dwarfish boy with an oversized head is turned out of his dead father’s house by relatives. On his travels, he acquires and puts to use various items with magical powers… slippers that allow him to run with superhuman speed or fly, a walking stick that can locate buried treasure, and fruit that can grow donkey ears and a long nose on anyone who eats it. Although returning home rich after humiliating an unfair king, he chooses to live in isolation. Themes include magic, appearance vs. inner character, betrayal, misanthropy/social withdrawal
The moral of the story is not to look down on or belittle people because of their physical stature or outward appearance. Despite his small stature, Mouk was clever and resourceful enough to outwit his able-bodied persecutors. Unfortunately, after a lifetime of mockery and rejection (beginning with his father!). Mouk came to despise his fellow man and preferred to spend the rest of his life alone.