What was the bargain made with the Sea Witch?

The Little Mermaid traded her voice for human legs. The witch also stipulated that every step would feel like treading on sharp blades and that she would die of a broken heart if the prince married anyone else.

Is the Little Mermaid a folk tale or a literary fairy tale?

It is a literary fairy tale, meaning it was an original creation by a specific author rather than an anonymous story passed down through oral tradition. However, it draws heavily on European folklore regarding undines and mermaids.

The Little Mermaid: European Folklore Story and Meaning

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Deep beneath the ocean waves lived the Little Mermaid, the youngest of the Sea King's daughters. Fascinated by the world above, she rescued a handsome prince from a shipwreck and fell deeply in love. Desperate to join him and gain an immortal soul, she visited the Sea Witch. The witch granted her legs in exchange for her beautiful voice, warning that every step would feel like walking on sharp knives, and if the prince married another, she would dissolve into sea foam. The mermaid lived among the humans, dancing for the prince despite her agony, but he ultimately chose a princess he believed had saved him. On his wedding night, her sisters brought her a magical dagger; if she killed the prince, she would return to her mermaid form. Unable to harm the man she loved, she cast herself into the sea. Instead of vanishing, she was transformed into a daughter of the air, earning the chance to win an eternal soul through three hundred years of good deeds.

The moral

True love is defined by selfless sacrifice and the purity of one's spirit rather than physical beauty or possession.

Questions about this story

What is the moral of The Little Mermaid?

The moral centers on selfless love and the pursuit of a higher purpose. It suggests that true devotion involves sacrifice and that one's actions and character determine the fate of the soul.

How does the original story end?

Unlike the happy endings in modern adaptations, the original ends with the mermaid turning into a 'daughter of the air.' She avoids death because she refused to kill the prince, entering a state of purgatory where she must perform good deeds to earn a soul.

Why did the Little Mermaid want to become human?

She was driven by two desires: her love for the prince and her longing for an immortal soul. She learned from her grandmother that humans live short lives but have souls that live forever in heaven, unlike merfolk who turn to sea foam.

Who is the author of The Little Mermaid?

The story was written by the Danish author Hans Christian Andersen and was first published in 1837. It remains one of his most famous and poignant literary fairy tales.

The Little Mermaid