Hans, The Mermaid

Son by Andrew
Lang

Submitted to:
Professor Anonuevo

Submitted by:
Aira Grace Atabay
Julie Lindaya
BSED - E III - I
Summary:
 Basmus is a poor smithy but he was diligent and hard working. If he does not

have a job as a smithy, he would go to the sea to go fishing. One time when he went

fishing, he disappeared for three days. People wondered where he went. When Basmus

got back, he had with him so many fishes. When he was asked he just said that he does

not remember anything. But the truth was he stayed in a mermaid's place.

After seven years, Basmus was shocked when a young lad approached him

claiming him as his father. Basmus accepted the young lad who does not look like his

age. He brought him home. Since Basmus was poor he couldn't satisfy the need of

Hans for food.

So Hans went along in search of a place where ha can eat enough. Then he met

the squire who hired him to work in place of twelve men. Hans agreed to this in

exchange of food to eat.

The first task of Hans is to thresh. He was able to do it but with his super strength

he broke all the tools for threshing. This made the squire afraid of him so he plotted a

plan to get rid of him. The next day, he ordered Hans to gather forest wood and

whoever comes last among the workers will be hanged. They gave Hans poor materials

for cutting but that did not stop him. He came first. The second plan is to clean the well.

They asked Hans to go down the well to clean. Then the other working men threw

stones and rocks at Hans. But that did not kill Hans. On the third day, he was asked to

go fishing on the Devilmoss Lake where he met Old Eric. Old Eric attacked him but he

was stronger. He ordered Old Eric to bring all the fish from the lake to the place of the

squire. The last plan of the squire is to send him to the purgatory. He was able to arrive
at the purgatory. Since Old Eric was afraid of him, they immediately gave him ten squire

more than what he asked.

After that he got tired of working. He gave half of the tribute to the squire and

another half to his father. Hans, then was never seen again.

Year Published: 1897 Country of Origin: Denmark

Genre: Mythology/Folk Tale Setting: Denmark
Characters:
Basmus: A poor man but he is diligent and hard working. The father of Hans who
works as a smith.
Hans: The son of Basmus and the mermaid. He has super strength and he eats
a lot.
Squire: He hired Hans to work for him in place of 12 working man.
Steward: She is the wife of the squire who helped him devise a plan to get rid of
Hans.

Literary Criticism:

Since, "Hans, The Mermaid Son" is a folktale or a mythology from Denmark, it

falls under archetypal criticism. Archetypal criticism argues that archetypes determine

the form and function of literary works, that a text's meaning is shaped by cultural and

psychological myths. From the story, we can see the culture of the Danish people. The

story is aligned with their culture and beliefs. We can see here the kind of life the Danish

people have. Their livelihood before; fishing, smithy, farming and the such. It also

depicts their beliefs of the existence of hell, purgatory and demons. There was a part in

the story wherein Hans was sent to the Devilmoss lake were Old Eric sometimes

resides. The Devilmoss symbolizes hell. Another is when Hans was sent to the
purgatory, where Old Eric lives. This clearly exhibits that the Danish people believes in

hell and that once you enter this place you'll never come back.

Archetypes are the unknowable basic forms personified or concretized in

recurring images, symbols, or patterns which may include motifs such as the quest or

the heavenly ascent, recognizable character types such as the trickster or the hero,

symbols or images all laden with meaning already when employed in a particular work.

In the story, we can clearly observe the recurring patterns and symbolism. Hans being

the hero, having super strength and him encountering different adventures and trials are

typical patterns in a mythology. The use of a lake as the symbol for hell is another

frequent pattern. In many mythology, bodies of water is usually associated as the

pathway to hell. It could be rivers or lakes. The Devilmoss Lake from the story, just like

in any other mythology, symbolizes the pathway to hell or the hell itself.

Archetypal criticism gets its impetus from psychologist Carl Jung, who postulated

that humankind has a "collective unconscious," a kind of universal psyche, which is

manifested in dreams and myths and which harbors themes and images that we all

inherit. Literature, therefore, imitates not the world but rather the "total dream of

humankind." This maybe the reason why mythology and folktales always has monsters,

heroes with extraordinary powers, adventures, magical creatures, fruits or food that

prolongs life or makes you immortal and a lot more. I guess through mythology, the

writer conveys what they want that they can only get in the course of their dreams.

Mythology is the ticket to escape reality and create a dream world.

 Archetypal images and story patterns encourage readers (and viewers of films

and advertisements) to participate ritualistically in basic beliefs, fears, and anxieties of

their age. These archetypal features not only constitute the intelligibility of the text but

also tap into a level of desires and anxieties of humankind.