Household Tales · Chapter
The Rose explained
A poor woman's youngest daughter, who regularly fetches wood in the forest, is helped by a mysterious strong child who disappears quickly.
What happens
A poor woman's youngest daughter, who regularly fetches wood in the forest, is helped by a mysterious strong child who disappears quickly. The child brings home a rose given by the stranger, who promised to return when it blooms. The mother places the rose in water; one morning the daughter is found dead but looking happy, and the rose is in full bloom.
Themes in this chapter
Magic and the Supernatural
A mysterious child appears in the forest, helps gather wood, gives a rose, and promises to return when it blooms—an event tied to the girl's peaceful death.
Transformation and Redemption
The girl's death is portrayed as a happy transformation, marked by the full bloom of the rose, suggesting a peaceful passage or redemption.
Characters to notice
- the girl
The youngest child who goes to the forest for wood and receives a rose from a mysterious child.
- the maiden
The mother of the two children, who tends the rose and discovers her daughter's death.
Key passages
“The youngest had to go every day into the forest to fetch wood.”
Each day, the younger child was sent to gather firewood from the forest.
Establishes the child's daily chore and setting.
“a little child, who was quite strong, came and helped her industriously to pick up the wood and carry it home, and then before a moment had passed the strange child disappeared.”
A small but strong child appeared, helped her gather and carry the wood home, and then vanished instantly.
Describes the supernatural helper's sudden appearance and disappearance.
“the beautiful child had given her this rose, and had told her that when it was in full bloom, he would return.”
The lovely child gave her a rose and said he would come back when it fully opened.
The promise tied to the rose's blooming.
“One morning her child could not get out of bed, the mother went to the bed and found her dead, but she lay looking very happy.”
One morning the child was unable to rise; the mother discovered her dead, yet her expression was peaceful and joyful.
The child's death is portrayed as serene and content.
“On the same morning, the rose was in full bloom.”
That very morning, the rose had fully opened.
The fulfillment of the promise coincides with the girl's death.