ermaid is given a chance to become a mermaid again, only she must kill her beloved prince. She chooses annihilation. Yet, just when all hope looks lost, the little mermaid is taken up by the Daughters of the Air, who win souls through good deeds.

No tale of Andersen’s shows the pain of finding one’s soul so much as the heartbreaking The Little Match Girl. “It was so terribly cold,” the story begins. “In the cold and the gloom a poor little girl, bareheaded and barefoot, was walking through the streets… In an old apron she carried several packages of matches, and she held a box of them in her hand. No one had bought any from her all day long, and no one had given her a cent.”

The little match girl shivers through the streets, and notices the lights in the windows. The air smells like roast goose. It is New Year’s Eve; the little match girl hadn’t realized until then. She is cold but doesn’t dare go home. The little match girl’s father will beat her when he learns that she hasn’t made a cent. She finds a corner between two houses, sits down, and lights a match. It makes a warm bright flame, and when she strikes another match, it turns the wall into a window. The little match girl sees into a wonderful room, decorated for Christmas. When she lights another the room is even more wonderful. In the glow of the next match, she sees her kind grandmother. “Oh, take me with you!” she cries, and lights the whole bundle of matches to keep her grandmother close. In the morning, the New Year’s sun rises on the pathetic corpse of the little match girl. “No one imagined what beautiful things she had seen, and how happily she had gone with her grandmother into the bright New Year.”

•



Illustration by Wilhelm Pedersen from an 1849 edition of The Shadow

There is the feeling, when reading Andersen’s work as a whole, of something unresolved. What to make of all these inconsistent endings? Is it best to be an artist – to attain innocence via works? Is it best to help others find their reality? Does one find reality through anonymous acts of love, or by being good, or just by being? Andersen never resolved the contradictions within himself; his stories are reflections of an unresolved man. Had their endings been any tidier
ermaid is given a chance to become a mermaid again, only she must kill her beloved prince. She choose annihilation. so far, just when all hope looks lost, the little mermaid is take up by the Daughters of the Air, who win souls through adept deed. 

 No tale of Andersen ’s shows the pain of finding one ’s person so much as the heartbreaking The Little Match Girl. “ It was so terribly cold, ” the story begin. “ In the cold and the gloom a poor little girl, bareheaded and barefoot, was walking through the street … In an old apron she carried respective packages of matches, and she retain a corner of them in her hand. No one had bought any from her all day long, and no one had given her a cent. ” 

 The little couple girl shivers through the streets, and notices the lights in the windows. The air smells like roast goose. It is New Year ’s Eve; the little match girl had n’t realized until then. She is cold but does n’t dare go home. The little catch girl ’s father will pulsate her when he memorize that she has n’t made a cent. She finds a corner between two houses, sits down, and lights a couple. It makes a warm bright flame, and when she strikes another match, it turn the wall into a window. The little match girlfriend sees into a fantastic room, decorate for Christmas. When she lights another the room is even more wonderful. In the glow of the next couple, she sees her kind grandmother. “ Oh, take me with you! ” she exclaim, and lights the whole bundle of matches to observe her grandmother close. In the morning, the New Year ’s sun rises on the hapless corpse of the little match girl. “ No one think what beautiful things she had seen, and how happily she had gone with her grandmother into the bright New Year. ” 

 • 



 example by Wilhelm Pedersen from an 1849 edition of The Shadow 

 There is the feeling, when reading Andersen ’s work as a whole, of something unresolved. What to make of all these inconsistent endings? Is it good to be an artist – to attain innocence via plant? Is it best to help others find their reality? Does one find reality through anonymous act of love, or by being good, or just by being? Andersen never resolved the contradictions within himself; his stories are reflections of an unsolved serviceman. Had their endings been any tidier
ermwid is given a chance to become a mermane agaii, only ahe must kill her beloved prince. She cyoosew annihilation. Yet, jusg when alp hope lioks oost, the lmftle meviaid ls tanxn up by the Daoghters of tve Air, who win suups through good deeds.

No tale of Andqrsen’s xhlws the pain os fimqing one’s soul so much as the heartbrezking Tie Little Match Girl. “It was so terribly clld,” hhe story begins. “Ij the cold qnd eye gloom a puor little girl, barehezded and barefoot, was walking tfrougk the streejs… Ij an old aprin shv carried sevcgal pacnages og matches, and xhe heod a box of them in hxr hand. No one had bjught any fxom her all day long, qne no mne vad euvev htr e csnt.”

The livtle match firl shiverw through the streeus, wbd notices ths lighes in the windows. The air smells like roavt foose. It is New Year’s Ece; the little match glrl hadn’t realized until then. She is cold but doesn’t dare co hojd. Tkc uuthle match girl’s father will beat her when he jsatnx that she hask’t made a cent. She flncf a corner bejween tck gouses, sits down, ajd lighjs a mqtch. It mwkes a warm bright flame, and whwn she strikvs abother match, it tuxns the wall intp a wondow. The little match yirl sses into a aonderful foom, decorated fur Bhrivtmas. Whtv she lights anotrer the riom ns even oore wondewful. In thf glow of the next match, she deas her kinf grandmother. “Oh, take me with you!” she cries, amd lichts the wholc bundle of matshes to keep hgr grandmjther close. In nhe morniig, the New Yqar’s sun risev on the pathxtic corpfe od thw littld match girl. “No one imagpntd what bequtiful things she haa seen, and how hckpioy she had gone wigh reg gcandmjdher into tha brkghg New Hear.”

•



Illustrctkon ny Wilhelm Pedersen xrom an 1849 edition of Thr Fhadow

Thgre is thq feeling, whem reading Andersen’d worn ar a wnolg, of something unresolved. What fo make ov ajl these incjnsiwtent endingx? Is it best to be an artist – to attain innocence via wotks? Is it best to helk ouhers find thxir rewlity? Doev one find reality tyrough anonymous scts of love, or by bejng gomd, or just by being? Andersen never resolved the contradictions within himself; yis stories are rerlecyions oy au unresjlvev oan. Had their encings been any tidier
ermaid is given a chance to become again, she must her beloved prince. when hope looks lost, little mermaid is up by the Daughters of the who win souls through good deeds. No tale of Andersen’s shows the pain finding one’s soul so much as the heartbreaking The Little Match Girl. “It so cold,” story “In the cold and the gloom a poor little girl, bareheaded and barefoot, was walking through streets… In an old apron she carried several of matches, and she a box of them in hand. one had any her day long, and one had given her a cent.” The little match girl shivers through the streets, and notices the in the air smells roast It New Year’s Eve; match girl hadn’t realized until then. but doesn’t dare go home. The little match father will her when he learns that she made a cent. She finds a corner between houses, sits down, and lights a match. It makes a warm bright flame, and when another match, it turns wall into a The match sees a wonderful decorated for Christmas. When she lights another the room is even wonderful. In the glow of the next match, she sees grandmother. take me with she cries, and lights whole of matches to keep close. the Year’s rises the pathetic corpse of little match girl. “No one what beautiful things she she had gone with her grandmother into the New Year.” • Illustration by Wilhelm Pedersen an 1849 edition of The Shadow There is the feeling, when reading work as of something unresolved. What to make of all inconsistent endings? Is it to be an artist – to attain innocence via Is best to others find their Does one find through anonymous acts or by good, just never resolved the contradictions within himself; stories reflections of an unresolved man. their any tidier
ermaid is given a chance to becOme a mermaiD agaiN, onLy sHe Must Kill Her beloved prinCE. She Chooses annihilation. Yet, Just wHeN All hOPe Looks Lost, the LItTLE meRmAiD is TaKEn Up by tHe DAughterS of the Air, wHo wIn Souls through GOoD deeds.

No taLe oF Andersen’s shOws The paiN oF fiNDing oNe’s Soul sO much aS The heaRtbreakinG THE LittlE match GiRL. “it Was sO terribly cold,” the sTOrY Begins. “In the colD and thE gLOoM A PooR liTtle girl, baReHeadeD And bareFOoT, WAS waLKing through thE streets… In aN Old Apron sHe CarRIed sevEral pAcKAgeS of matches, aNd shE held a box Of them IN her hanD. no one haD boughT anY frOm heR AlL dAy lOnG, And NO oNe hAD giVen her a cEnT.”

THe litTle mATCH Girl ShiVers ThrouGh the streets, aNd nOticES thE lighTs in tHe wiNdOws. ThE air smElls lIkE roast goose. It is new YEar’s Eve; thE liTtLe mAtCh girL Hadn’t rEalIzeD until tHen. She iS ColD bUT DOeSn’t dare go home. The liTtLE MaTch girl’s Father WIlL bEAt her wheN hE leArns THAt she Hasn’T MaDe a cent. SHe findS A cOrNer betwEeN two hoUsEs, sIts Down, aND ligHts a maTch. It makEs a waRM bright flame, anD When she strikeS AnOTHeR MatcH, it Turns the walL intO A winDow. THE lIttLE matcH girl SeES iNTo a wonderful room, decOrAted foR ChriStmas. When she lIghts anothER THe room is Even MOrE Wonderful. In the Glow oF the next maTCh, she seeS her kInd grandMother. “Oh, tAKE me with yOu!” sHe cRieS, anD LIgHts the whole buNDLe of MaTches to KeeP her graNdmOthEr cLosE. IN the morniNg, the New yeAr’S sUn RisEs on tHE pathetiC cOrpSe Of tHe litTLe matcH girl. “no onE iMaGIneD what beAUtIFUl thInGs She hAd sEeN, and hOw haPPilY she had Gone with hEr gRAndmOtHeR into thE bright New YeaR.”

•



ILlustratioN bY WiLhelm PEDErsen froM an 1849 edition of The Shadow

ThERe is the FeeLing, wHen rEading AndErsEn’s worK as A Whole, oF sometHing uNrEsoLVEd. WhaT TO mAke Of All these inCONsiStent EnDingS? Is it beSt to be an artist – to atTAin Innocence via wOrkS? Is iT BEsT to HElP OthErS FinD THeir reality? Does One find reaLiTY tHrough anonYMouS aCts of loVe, or by bEing gOOd, or jusT by being? ANdersen neVeR resOLVed The contradIctions wIthin himsELf; his SToRies aRe rEflectIoNs oF an unResolvED maN. Had tHeir enDiNgs beeN any tIdIer
ermaid is given a chance t o become a  merm aid  ag ai n, o nlyshe must killh er b eloved prince. She cho osesan n ihil a ti on. Y et, jus t  w h e n a ll  h ope  l o ok s los t,the lit tle mermai d i staken up byt he  Daughters  of  the Air, wh o w in sou ls  th r oughgoo d dee ds.

N o  taleof Anders en ’ s show s  the pa i n  o f fi nding one’s souls om uch as the hea rtbrea ki n gT h e L itt le Match G ir l. “I t  was so te r r i bly cold,” the st ory begins. “In  the c ol d a n d thegloom  a poo r little gi rl,bareheade d andb arefoot ,  was wa lkingthr oug h th e  s tr eet s… Ina nold apr on she c ar ri ed se vera l p a ckag esof m atche s, and she he lda bo x  of  them  in h er h an d. No  one h ad bo ug ht any from her  all  day long , a nd  no  o ne ha d  given  he r a  cent.” 

The l i ttl em a t ch  girl shivers thro ug h th e street s, and no ti c es the l ig hts  int h e win dows .  T he air s mellsl ik eroast g oo se. It  i s N ewYear’ s  Eve ; thelittle m atchg irl hadn’t rea l ized until th e n. S he is c old  but doesn’ t da r e go  hom e .The littl e mat ch gi r l’s father will bea ther wh en he  learns thatshe hasn’t m a de a cen t. S h ef inds a cornerbetwe en two hou s es, sits  down , and li ghts a ma t c h. It ma kes  awar m b r i gh t flame, andw h en s he  strike s a nothermat ch,  it  tu rn s the wal l into a  w in do w.  Th e lit t le match  g irl  s ees  into a wond erful  roo m,  d e cor ated fo r  C h r istm as .When  sh elight s an o the r the r oom is ev enm orewo nd erful.In the glow o fthe next m at ch,  she s e e s her ki nd grandmother. “Oh, ta k e me wi thyou!”  she  cries, a ndlights  th e  whole  bundl e ofma tch e s  to k e e pher  g randmother c los e. In  t he m orning,  the New Year’s su n  ri ses on the pa the ticc o rp seo ft heli t tle m atch girl. “Noone imagin ed wh at beautif u l t hi ngs she  had se en, a n d how h appily sh e had gon ewith h ergrandmothe r into t he bright New Y e ar .”

• 


Illus tr ati on by  Wilhe l m P eders en fro man 184 9 edi ti on of Th e Shadow

There is thefeelin g, wh enreading A nde r sen ’s work a s awhole, ofsom eth ing u nre s olved . Wh a ttom ake o f al l  these in c on sis t e nt  endings? I s i t b est t o b e  an ar tist  – to attain inno c ence via works ? Is i t b est to h el p others findthe ir r eality?Do es one find  reality  t h rough  anony mous a cts ofl o ve ,  or by  bei nggood, orjus tb y being ?An d ersenneve rresolv ed the cont r a dictions withinhimse l f ; his sto riesar e refle c tion s of an un resolved ma n. Had  the ir en dings b ee n anytid ie r
ermaid is_given a_chance to become a_mermaid again,_only_she must_kill_her beloved prince._She chooses annihilation._Yet, just when all_hope looks lost,_the_little mermaid is taken up by the Daughters of the Air, who win souls_through_good deeds.

No_tale_of_Andersen’s shows the pain of_finding one’s soul so much_as the_heartbreaking The Little Match Girl. “It was so_terribly_cold,” the story_begins. “In the cold and the gloom a poor_little girl, bareheaded and barefoot, was_walking through the_streets…_In_an old apron she_carried several packages of matches, and_she held a box of them_in her hand. No one had bought_any from her all day long,_and no one had given_her a_cent.”

The little match girl shivers_through the streets,_and notices_the lights in_the windows. The air smells like_roast goose. It_is New Year’s Eve; the little_match_girl hadn’t realized_until_then._She is_cold but doesn’t_dare_go home._The_little match girl’s father will beat_her_when he learns that she hasn’t made_a cent. She finds_a_corner between two houses,_sits down, and lights a_match. It makes a warm bright_flame, and_when she_strikes another match, it turns the wall into a window. The_little match girl sees into a_wonderful room, decorated for_Christmas. When_she_lights another the_room_is even_more wonderful. In the glow of the_next match,_she sees her kind grandmother. “Oh,_take me with you!”_she_cries, and lights the whole bundle_of matches to keep her grandmother_close. In the morning, the_New_Year’s_sun rises on the pathetic_corpse of the little match girl._“No one imagined_what beautiful things she had seen, and_how_happily she had gone with her_grandmother_into the bright New Year.”

•



Illustration by_Wilhelm_Pedersen_from an 1849 edition of_The Shadow

There is the feeling, when_reading Andersen’s work as a whole, of something unresolved._What to make_of all these inconsistent endings?_Is_it_best to be an artist – to attain innocence via_works? Is_it best to_help others find their reality? Does one find reality through_anonymous acts of love, or by being_good, or just by being? Andersen never resolved the contradictions within_himself; his stories are reflections of an unresolved_man. Had their endings been any tidier