James Baquet

Danish author Hans Christian Andersen wrote the fairy tale “The Little Mermaid” in 1837. Several films have been made based on the story; the latest, a live-action musical version, was released just last year. But this is the original.

The Sea King had six daughters, each born a year apart. The youngest was known simply as “the Little Mermaid.”

On each girl’s 15th birthday she was allowed to visit the human world. The Little Mermaid heard her sister’s stories until at last it was her turn. She had loved hearing about the human world, and now she would see it at last!

When her turn came, she emerged from the sea next to a ship where a handsome prince was having his birthday party. She fell in love with the prince, and when a violent storm hit the ship, she was able to save him from drowning. She placed his unconscious form at a temple by the sea, and a woman came from the temple to care for the prince. The Little Mermaid retreated, unseen, back into the water.

Mer-people live around 300 years, at which time they turn to sea foam and cease to exist; the Little Mermaid learned that humans have shorter lives, but have souls that live forever.

Looking for a solution, she finds a Sea Witch who sells her a potion that has the following effects: Her tail will turn to feet, but she will always have great pain; she will be able to dance more elegantly than any human; and she will have no voice. She can obtain a soul only if she can get the prince to marry her.

She takes the potion. She befriends the prince but, because she is mute, cannot tell him it was she who saved him before. She suffers the pain, but dances for the prince. He does not fall in love with her.

In fact, he loves the woman from the temple, and marries her. The Little Mermaid’s heart breaks, but there’s a twist: If she will kill the prince with a magic dagger, she can be a mermaid again.

But she refuses. As a result, she does change into sea foam — but then becomes a “daughter of the air.” Her sacrifice has led to a new life, and she lives out her 300 years doing good deeds. In the end, she gains an immortal soul for all the good she has done.

Vocabulary:

Which word above means:

1. liquid filled with small air bubbles

2. half woman, half fish

3. beautifully, superbly

4. dying by breathing water

5. stop, end

6. able to live forever

7. a magic drink

8. a small knife

9. went back

10. unable to speak