Short Story
3. Can we sum up the theme of Hans Christian Anderson's
Story "The Little Match Girl" by saying that it is a
story about the need for comparison for those who
so much less than we do"? (500) words
Answers
Answer:
"The Little Match Girl" is a literary fairy tale by Danish poet and author Hans Christian Andersen. The story, about a dying child's dreams and hope, was first published in 1845. It has been adapted to various media, including animated, live-action, and VR films as well as television musicals.
Explanation:
is one of our Favorite Fairy Tales. Published by Hans Christian Andersen in 1845, it exemplifies his broad literary talent and ability. I personally like to read this story at least twice a year, once in Autumn as the holiday season comes into focus, and then again around the Christmas holiday. It's a gentle reminder of the value of compassion and charity. The Little Match Girl Study Guide is a resource for teachers and students.
An illustration for the story The Little Match Girl by the author Hans Christian Andersen
Most terribly cold it was; it snowed, and was nearly quite dark, and evening-- the last evening of the year. In this cold and darkness there went along the street a poor little girl, bareheaded, and with naked feet. When she left home she had slippers on, it is true; but what was the good of that? They were very large slippers, which her mother had hitherto worn; so large were they; and the poor little thing lost them as she scuffled away across the street, because of two carriages that rolled by dreadfully fast.
One slipper was nowhere to be found; the other had been laid hold of by an urchin, and off he ran with it; he thought it would do capitally for a cradle when he some day or other should have children himself. So the little maiden walked on with her tiny naked feet, that were quite red and blue from cold. She carried a quantity of matches in an old apron, and she held a bundle of them in her hand. Nobody had bought anything of her the whole livelong day; no one had given her a single farthing.
She crept along trembling with cold and hunger--a very picture of sorrow, the poor little thing!
Answer:Yes, the theme of the story can indeed be traced down to society's lack of compassion. The little girl froze to death because of lack of help. She was underdressed and exposed to the harsh weather. She did not have clothes that could protect her against the cold. Even her footwear was not appropriate for the season. Unfortunately she lost the oversized slippers as well. The girl did not have any socks on her feet or cap on her head. The child was out selling matches for a living, when she died.Society failed the child in more than one ways. Society's lack of compassion forced her to earn a living. A little compassion, a little donation or help in kind would have meant a lot to the child. It could have meant the difference between life and death.Similarly a little compassion for her father could have helped him take care of his family. Financial difficulties make a man bitter. It kills his inherent compassion and reduces him to the level of a brute, bereft of any fatherly feelings. Had the circumstances been different, he could have been a good father, who could possibly have cared for the child.Compassion towards the underprivileged does indeed play a vital role in society, and that is the underlying dark theme of the story.