Bella, Jenya, Aly 4/15/14 Period 6 Mr.

Cooks 232

The Magic Swan

The Magic Swan is a European Fairy tale and folk story, collected by Herman Kletke. The theme of The Magic Swan is to avoid greediness. The story is centered around a young man named Peter. Peter has run away from home because being constantly blamed by his two older brothers, named Jacob and Frederick. The Magic Swan has many examples of religious allusion, mainly influenced around the story of St. Peter in New Testament of the Bible. In this children story we also see many interpretations of symbolism. Including the swan, cherry, pear tree, old women, and the saying hold fast and many more all have a symbolic meaning to the story of The Magic Swan. At the beginning of the story we hear about the main character, Peter. Peter meaning which solid, rock, or stone. Peter has two older brothers, Frederick and Jacob. Frederick meaning peaceful ruler and Jacob meaning, healer, holder of heel, supplanter. They treated Peter shamefully and often left him to clean up their mistakes. One day when Peter was picking up little sticks in the woods a little old woman came up to him. She asked him all of his troubles, and Peter told her. After Peter was explaining his situation, the old women asked Peter why he couldn't try his fortune somewhere else. When he had finished his tale of woe, 'isn't the world wide enough? Set out and try your fortune elsewhere. Peter agreed with the old dame and decided to leave his fathers house in the morning. Then after leaving the village, Peter runs into the old women. She has asked him what he plans to do now. Peter we lost for a answer because he always thought

Bella, Jenya, Aly 4/15/14 Period 6 Mr. Cooks 232 his future would just fall into his mouth like a ripe cherry, but the wise of women had a answer for him. Since she is an old woman, she has more experience. For she saw the unknowingness in his eyes. The old women gave him advice because she had grown fond of the boy and she was positive that he would not forget her when his fortune was made. The old women gave Peter directions to a pear tree down yonder, where a man would be sleeping and a beautiful swan would be next to him fasten by a red cord. He was to take the swan and use it to get his fortune, the old women explained. Once he had taken the swan, people would see it and fall in love with its plumage and beauty that they will want to take a feather. Peter must allow it, but when a person touches the swan the swan will scream and Peter must say Swan, hold fast. The person will be stuck and nothing can set them free unless you touch the swan with the magical little stick the old women gave him. When Peter was to have many people stuck to the swan he was to take it to a town where the a princess lives. No one had ever seen her laugh, but Peter must change that. For the Kind was to give the person who ever could make his daughter smile were to have their fortune to be made. In this case is knowledgeable than peter, she advises peter that there is more that he could do, if he left his home. She also warned him to remember her help, once he is successful. Peter then follows the old women directions and goes to get the swan. After, the swan is stolen, they go into the town. A small youth, who shows greediness, tries to take a feather from the swan, to which peter yells, Swan, hold fast. People come to help the youth and try to pull him out. First, is a girl washing clothes in the neighboring stream comes to help but is trapped. Second, a chimney sweep who comes to offer to help but then is also trapped. Next a clown. Last is the mayor and

Bella, Jenya, Aly 4/15/14 Period 6 Mr. Cooks 232 the mayorees, the mayor is pulled when he has a lack of temper and pulls on the clowns (man in front of him) arm. Together, as they are all trapped, they move to go to the kings castle. When before entering the castle a glittering carriage pulls up. In side is the beautiful young princess who laughs at the line of foolish people Peter has taken. When the town learns that the Princess has finally laughed, the King is told immediately. In return to Peter, the King offers him a piece of land or a thousand gold crowns (this can be interpreted as the austro-hungarian currency, krones). Peter, showing lack of greed by chooses the land, knowing he can do more with it and generations can use it after him. The princess is then taken by the beauty and plumage of the swan that goes to stroke its feather, when the swan screams. Peter calling, Swan, hold fast. The princess is then trapped and Peter takes her has his bride. With the land Peter builds and magnificent castle where he and his bride live. He did not forget the one person that led him to such good fortune. Peter gives her the job of head housekeeper of the castle. He has her to thank for helping him became a successful man but also a great man. The story is called The Magic Swan, which by itself already has a symbolic meaning. The swans symbolic definition in the story is transformation and beauty. Which facilitates Peters change from a delicate younger brother and to gaining his royalty which completely changes his life. The swan is described as, beautiful large swan...fall in love with its beautiful plumage. We only see the word beautiful used to describe one other thing other than the swan. It is the princess. She is described has, In it was a young lady as beautiful as the day, but with a very solemn and serious expression. Also a symbolic meaning in this story is the pear tree. This evening, at

Bella, Jenya, Aly 4/15/14 Period 6 Mr. Cooks 232 sunset, go to yonder pear tree growing at the crossroads. The pear tree is symbolic of a mans salvation. The saying for he had always thought fortune would drop into his mouth like a ripe cherry. Also has a symbolic meaning. Cherry is symbolic of Cherries often symbolize a sweetness of character that comes from good deeds. An example of a good deed form Peter was he helped his brother, Peter had to bear the blame and put things right for them. The symbolic meaning of the red cord when Peter found the swan symbolizes in the Asian culture the red sting, in the Asian culture there is a widespread cultural legend that an invisible red string connects all people who are destined to meet and connect with each other. One other example of symbolism is the term, Swan, hold fast. Which is a nautical term that means to anchor, or to hold. The symbolism of the old womans job of being the housekeeper relates to the job that the housekeeper is given. A housekeeper is supposed to direct other people, just like the old women directed Peter. Also, in this story we also see the differences between the ages. We have a wise old women who directs Peter to his fortune and the young youth who was taken by the beauty and plumage of the swan and greedy to take a feather. The old woman is knowledgeable and has lessoned her lesson unlike the youth. This story also alludes to a German story called Hans and the princess, in which three brothers set out to make the royal princess laugh. An example of Religious allusion in the story, is the way St. Peters story in the New Testament is mimicked by Peters path in the story. In the fairy tale, the king, after peter is able to make his daughter laugh, awards Peter either a hundred golden crowns (Krones, the currency), or a piece of land. Peter takes the land and builds a castle, having

Bella, Jenya, Aly 4/15/14 Period 6 Mr. Cooks 232 won the Princess as his bride. Similarly, St. Peter was given land by Jesus, and told to build a church that would stand up to the flames of hades. This represents St. Peters sainthood, and Peters goodness as a person. St. Peter has a wife, who is mentioned as Febronia, which means sacrifice by atonement. The meaning fits into the character of the princess in the story. In conclusion, this folk/fairy tale has many different types of allusion, a lot coming from different European cultures but also as well as the Christian religion. Throughout the story we also read about symbolism relating back to small the Asian culture. With reading this fairy tale we see the main idea has a lot of ethical values in it and is against greed because it can be conceived as a sin and comes with consequences. We see how this story has been passed down from generation to generation in several European cultures and is centered towards children. Hint the princess and the castle. This story teaches the educated reader about a valuable lesson to be learned in life about greediness. Especially in todays society the world has gone mad in consumerism and materialism. The feather is the example in this story. Our generation is known for wanting things NOW, but even in the olden days there was still a lesson to be taught about these subject. Even if this lesson flies over your childs head (like it did with us as a children), at least you tried and someday when they have Mr. Cooks has there English teacher they will soon realize how important the moral of this story is.