The Story of a Mother
Encyclopedia
"The Story of a Mother" (Danish
: "Historien om en moder") is a story by the Danish
poet
, travel writer, short story writer, and novelist Hans Christian Andersen
(1805-1875). The tale was first published December 1847. The story has been adapted into an animated film.
has not slept for three days and nights watching over her sick child. When she closes her eyes for just a moment, Death
comes and takes her child. The mother rushes into the street and asks a woman, who is Night
, which way Death went.
Night tells her to go into the forest
, but first the mother must sing every lullaby
that she has ever sung for her child. In the forest, a thorn bush tells her which way to continue, but only after she has warmed the bush by pressing it to her chest, causing her to bleed. The mother then reaches a lake
that carries her across in exchange for her eyes, which she cries out.
The now blind mother reaches the greenhouse
where Death cares for the flowers and trees, each one a human life. Here the mother finds the little sick plant that is her child, recognizing it by the sound of its heartbeat. The old woman who helps care for the greenhouse tells her, in exchange for her hair, that when Death comes, she must threaten to rip up the other flowers. Death will then be afraid for he must answer to God
; only God decides when the plants are pulled up and planted in the garden of Paradise, where we do not know what happens.
Death comes carrying the child and when he asks the mother how she could have gotten there before him, she answers, "I am a mother." She threatens to rip out two of the flowers, but when Death asks her if she would make two other mothers as unhappy as she is, she immediately lets go.
Death gives her back her eyes and asks her to look into a well. Here she sees the future
s of two children, one full of happiness and love, the other full of misery and despair. He says that one of these futures would be the future of her child, were it to live.
Then the mother screams in fear, "Which is my child! Rather carry my child into God's kingdom than allow it to suffer such a life."
Death says, "I do not understand. Do you want your child back or should I carry it away into the unknown?"
And the mother wrings her hands, gets down on her knees, and prays to God:
"Do not listen to me when I ask against your will! Do not listen to me, do not listen to me, do not listen to me!"
And Death leaves, carrying her child into the unknown land.
Danish language
Danish is a North Germanic language spoken by around six million people, principally in the country of Denmark. It is also spoken by 50,000 Germans of Danish ethnicity in the northern parts of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, where it holds the status of minority language...
: "Historien om en moder") is a story by the Danish
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
, travel writer, short story writer, and novelist Hans Christian Andersen
Hans Christian Andersen
Hans Christian Andersen was a Danish author, fairy tale writer, and poet noted for his children's stories. These include "The Steadfast Tin Soldier," "The Snow Queen," "The Little Mermaid," "Thumbelina," "The Little Match Girl," and "The Ugly Duckling."...
(1805-1875). The tale was first published December 1847. The story has been adapted into an animated film.
Synopsis
A motherMother
A mother, mum, mom, momma, or mama is a woman who has raised a child, given birth to a child, and/or supplied the ovum that grew into a child. Because of the complexity and differences of a mother's social, cultural, and religious definitions and roles, it is challenging to specify a universally...
has not slept for three days and nights watching over her sick child. When she closes her eyes for just a moment, Death
Death (personification)
The concept of death as a sentient entity has existed in many societies since the beginning of history. In English, Death is often given the name Grim Reaper and, from the 15th century onwards, came to be shown as a skeletal figure carrying a large scythe and clothed in a black cloak with a hood...
comes and takes her child. The mother rushes into the street and asks a woman, who is Night
Night
Night or nighttime is the period of time when the sun is below the horizon. This occurs after dusk. The opposite of night is day...
, which way Death went.
- "Death walks faster than the wind and never returns what he has taken."
- "Tell me which way he went and I will find him!"
Night tells her to go into the forest
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
, but first the mother must sing every lullaby
Lullaby
A lullaby is a soothing song, usually sung to young children before they go to sleep, with the intention of speeding that process. As a result they are often simple and repetitive. Lullabies can be found in every culture and since the ancient period....
that she has ever sung for her child. In the forest, a thorn bush tells her which way to continue, but only after she has warmed the bush by pressing it to her chest, causing her to bleed. The mother then reaches a lake
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
that carries her across in exchange for her eyes, which she cries out.
The now blind mother reaches the greenhouse
Greenhouse
A greenhouse is a building in which plants are grown. These structures range in size from small sheds to very large buildings...
where Death cares for the flowers and trees, each one a human life. Here the mother finds the little sick plant that is her child, recognizing it by the sound of its heartbeat. The old woman who helps care for the greenhouse tells her, in exchange for her hair, that when Death comes, she must threaten to rip up the other flowers. Death will then be afraid for he must answer to God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
; only God decides when the plants are pulled up and planted in the garden of Paradise, where we do not know what happens.
Death comes carrying the child and when he asks the mother how she could have gotten there before him, she answers, "I am a mother." She threatens to rip out two of the flowers, but when Death asks her if she would make two other mothers as unhappy as she is, she immediately lets go.
Death gives her back her eyes and asks her to look into a well. Here she sees the future
Future
The future is the indefinite time period after the present. Its arrival is considered inevitable due to the existence of time and the laws of physics. Due to the nature of the reality and the unavoidability of the future, everything that currently exists and will exist is temporary and will come...
s of two children, one full of happiness and love, the other full of misery and despair. He says that one of these futures would be the future of her child, were it to live.
Then the mother screams in fear, "Which is my child! Rather carry my child into God's kingdom than allow it to suffer such a life."
Death says, "I do not understand. Do you want your child back or should I carry it away into the unknown?"
And the mother wrings her hands, gets down on her knees, and prays to God:
"Do not listen to me when I ask against your will! Do not listen to me, do not listen to me, do not listen to me!"
And Death leaves, carrying her child into the unknown land.
Films
- Historien om en moder (1949), a Danish film directed by Max Louw.
- Historien om en moder (1963), a Danish film directed by Erik Kirchner, Erik Mortensen and Jørgen Thoms
- Historien om en moderThe Story of a Mother (film)The Story of a Mother is a 1979 Danish drama film directed by Claus Weeke and starring Anna Karina. It is an adaptation of the Hans Christian Andersen short story of the same name.-Cast:* Anna Karina - Christine Olsen* Gustaf Hagström - Barnet...
(1979), a Danish film directed by Claus Weeke. - Death and the Mother (1988), an English film directed by Ruth Lingford.
- Historia de una madre (2003), a Mexican film directed by Erik MariñelarenaErik MariñelarenaErik Mariñelarena Herrera is a Mexican film director, screenwriter and producer.He is the founder of E Corp Studio, a production company he established in 2001, alongside his wife Liz Ortiz, later joining his producing partner Carlos Hernández Vázquez.-Personal life:Mariñelarena was born in Mexico...
- Historien om en mor (2005), a Danish TV movie directed by Svend Ploug Johansen.
Comics
- The Story of a Mother (2004), a Danish graphic novelGraphic novelA graphic novel is a narrative work in which the story is conveyed to the reader using sequential art in either an experimental design or in a traditional comics format...
by Peter MadsenPeter Madsen (cartoonist)Peter Madsen is an award-winning Danish cartoonist, illustrator, and author. Along with editor Henning Kure and fellow cartoonist Rune T...
.
External links
- The Story of a Mother comic by Peter Madsen
- English translation (full text) from "Andersen's Fairy Tales"