Reading Notes[[Andersen's Fairy Tales and Stories, Part B]]

[SOME SPOILERS]

Little Mermaid-Pinterest

1. The Little Mermaid: Give different descriptions of what the mermaids saw.

• Instead of them seeing beautiful things they each saw bad things, that the report back to t
  he Little Mermaid.When the youngest mermaid finally goes to the surface herself she doesn't see the bad, but all the good. That is when she vows to be a "land dweller".
• Basically, a story that showcases what causes the Little Mermaid to be desperate to live on dry land.

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I like the idea of fusing the sea creature from The Odyssey be the same thing that causes the ship to sink in this story. I think it would connect to seemingly different stories together, kind of give it a crossover appeal. In my version of this story the prince does not survive and the Little Mermaid defeats the creature, with her

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siren song and so on.

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Side Note: The story is really difficult to read. It also had the tendency to make me way more tired/drowsy than I actually was.

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Siren mermaid luring men to their death.

• Accidentally kills princes that she loves.
• Sings a song to many sailors on the ship as the prince is in the chambers. The sailors are poaching sea creatures, wanting no part of it the prince retires to his chambers. The Little Mermaid didn't know this and punishes the sailors. In turn, killing the prince.

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Side Note (SPOILER): I never expected the cutting out of the Little Mermaids tongue. Seems like a darker story than the white-washed Disney movie.

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The evil sea witch becomes human as a punishment for cutting out

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the Little Mermaids tongue. After what she had done the sea witch was banished to live on land as an old, ugly human. There she also becomes a bad witch, plotting and trying to kill the Little Mermaid.

• Come up with spells for the sea witch.

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Side Note (SPOILER): I really hated the fact that the prince kept calling the Little Mermaid dumb. It bothered me because if a person doesn't know how to sing and cannot speak doesn't necessarily make the ignorant. I think this part in the story really shows the time period, in which, it was written.

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Side Note (SPOILER): I'm not really sure what to think about the

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ending its pretty, yet whimsical way to end the Little Mermaids story. Yet it was a HUGE disappointment because she sacrificed so much, gave so much for the prince and she couldn't even win him.

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Technically the Little Mermaid did save the prince, but her lack of voicing this condemns her. Making a story where she wins the prince and etc. is the ending this story deserves. Disney knew that and therefore gave and worth ending to the Little Mermaid. I would like to do the same.

Fairy Tales and Stories by Hans Christian Andersen, translated by H. P. Paull (1872).

Hans Christian Andersen, Fairy Tales and Stories

I love Birdy and this song/video is perfect for this week!