Saturday, January 8, 2011

Fairy Tale Fridays: The Ice Maiden

Special Thanks to my Personal Faery Friend for the Button Art: Ye Olde Faery Shoppe 
I must first apologize for posting this one so late this week!  It's been a tough week getting back into the groove and I've had limited access to the computer.  Thank heavens I have been scheduling posts!  Moving on . . .

This week is our last pre-assigned selection for Fairy Tale Fridays and the lucky pick is The Ice Maiden by Hans Christian Andersen.  It is one of the longest tales that we have read, but once again, completely worth the read with Andersen's beautiful descriptions.  Unfortunately, it has another sad ending, leaving me with many mixed feelings for the overall story.

As an infant, Rudy's mother falls into a mountain ice crevice and is kissed by the Ice Maiden.  By luck or the love of others watching over him, he somehow survives and grows up to be a successful and courageous hunter and climber.  He falls in love with a miller's daughter named Babette and experiences the happiest days of his life.  Unfortunately, we all know from Andersen's track record that his luck cannot last long and he sadly is taken by the Maiden the night before he is to wed the love of his life.  Of course, he was pushing his luck a bit when he shouts to the world, "The world has no more it can give me."  I personally believe that his courage may have went a bit overboard.  Humbleness can take a person a long way, and I would have liked to have seen a bit more in Rudy.  However, without this "courage," my favorite quote would not have existed . . .
"Don't give up," he said aloud.  "I will visit the mill and say good evening to the miller and good day to Babette.  Believe that you can't fall and you won't.  After all, Babette has to meet me sooner or later if I am to be her husband."

Were your feelings warm or cold to his tale?  Would you recommend it to friends or have them avoid it altogther? 

UPCOMING TALES:
Friday, January 14th:  Your Choice, Classic or Modern!
Friday, January 21st:  Fairy Tale Fridays Happy Ending & Wrap-Up Post


2 comments:

  1. I have mixed feelings about Andersen's tales usually.

    ReplyDelete
  2. carolsnotebook . . . Me too! They are so beautifully written, but always so sad!

    ReplyDelete

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