The original: The Little Mermaid

The original: The Little Mermaid
By Hans Christian Andersen

Unlike the Disney animated movie, this original story of the little Mermaid has a much different ending. The story begins with her as a child dreaming of the land above the waters. When she finally turns 15, she is able to see the beautiful land that she dreamed of seeing her whole childhood. Upon seeing this whole new world, she finds a ship with a handsome young prince and saves him from a nasty storm that almost kills him. The little Mermaid grows passionately in love with him and can no longer be happy without him. She goes to the sea witch to ask for a mortal soul and to become a human. The sea witch tells her that she would lose her voice and have sharp pains in her feet. She also would die and never come back to life if the prince didn't fall in love with her. She excepted everything she said. As she lives her life in the palace, she is so happy to be with the one she loves yet she suffers so greatly for him and he doesn't know. Although she had many pains, it did not stop her from enjoying every moment with him. The little Mermaid would do anything for him even if it meant to die for him........


The author expresses the setting of the ocean very well in the book. He explains the castle they live in and the color that surrounds them. He also explains the coldness of the witches palace. He explains the mood in the story very well and expresses it as a sad mood yet with beatiful surroundings that make you imagine the wonders. I really like this short story because it has a great rich background of characters and setting.