<P> Shooting an apple off one 's child 's head , also known as apple - shot ( from German Apfelschuss ) is a feat of marksmanship with a bow or crossbow that occurs as a motif in a number of legends in Germanic folklore ( and has been connected with non-European folklore ) . In the Stith Thompson Motif Index it is F661. 3 , described as `` Skillful marksman shoots apple from man 's head '' or `` apple shot from man 's head '' , though it always occurs in the form of the marksman being ordered to shoot an apple ( or occasionally another smaller object ) off his own son 's head . It is best known as William Tell 's feat . </P>
<P> Shooting an apple off one 's child 's head , also known as apple - shot ( from German Apfelschuss ) is a feat of marksmanship with a bow or crossbow that occurs as a motif in a number of legends in Germanic folklore ( and has been connected with non-European folklore ) . In the Stith Thompson Motif Index it is F661. 3 , described as `` Skillful marksman shoots apple from man 's head '' or `` apple shot from man 's head '' , though it always occurs in the form of the marksman being ordered to shoot an apple ( or occasionally another smaller object ) off his own son 's head . It is best known as William Tell 's feat . </P>
who shot the apple off the boy 's head
who shot the apple off the boy 's head
William Tell
William Tell