Tales and Stories of Hans Christian Anderson

Tales and Stories by Hans Christian Anderson: The Tinderbox, The Princess on the Pea, The Little Mermaid,and The Sweethearts
Publisher: University of Washington Press
Copyright: 1980
Number of Pages: 246 (whole book)
Age: 12+ years
Genre: Fairytale

Summary of: The little Mermaid
In this story it is about the typical little mermaid until near the end. The little mermaid always wanted to to be a human. She sees the prince on his ship right before a storm comes and starts to sink the ship. The little mermaid goes and saves the prince before he drowns. She pulls him ashore and talks to him as he slept. As soon as she heard someone coming she fled back to the sea.
The little mermaid wanted to be a human so badly so she could be with the prince. So she goes to the wicked sea witch. She made a deal with the witch that she needed to get the prince to kiss her as his one true love or she would turn into the dust and mold of the sea (also that she would lose her voice while she was a human). If the prince kissed another as his love then she would then disperse to the sea as the mold and dust. Another part of the deal was that every time the little mermaid went to walk she would feel little knives at the bottom of her feet. However, the little mermaid accepted the terms and she went to the sea top and turned into a human. She was taken ashore by the waves. Soon the prince came and took her in. As the little mermaid spent her time in the castle the prince thought he wanted to marry the little mermaid until another one came along and the prince started to fall in love with another. The prince wanted to be married to this new maiden. Before the wedding the little mermaids sisters came to the sea top and told the little mermaid that if she took this dagger and stuck it in his heart then she would be free from the deal that she made with the wicked witch. However, that night the little mermaid looked at he prince and knew she couldn't. So she forfited her life.
At the wedding the prince kissed his new bride and the little mermaid was fled to the sea. She was so sad because she knew that as soon as her life was over it was over and her soul could not carry on anymore like the humans. Then right when she was changing and being pulled to the ocean a spirit came and took her by the hand. She told the little mermaid that because of her sincere heart and desire to serve she will have her spirit continue on as she tries to serve others as a spirit. The little mermaid was confused because of the deal she made but she was so happy. And the prince lived happily with his bride.

Who would benefit from this book?
Anyone would. Its a great story that even adults can enjoy because its not the typical story about the little mermaid and having her perfect ending.

What problems might this book cause?
None that I could think of.

My reaction:
I enjoyed the book but I thought it was sad how she went through all tha suffering for nothing. It is true that you don't always get your perfect ending but it was sad because she had to suffer so much more then in the typical story of little mermaid.