The Wonderful Adventures of Nils · Chapter
The Legend of Småland explained
The wild geese travel over the sea and land in Tjust Township in northern Småland.
What happens
The wild geese travel over the sea and land in Tjust Township in northern Småland. Nils observes the beautiful landscape where land and sea meet. Akka decides they must continue northward without delay, disappointing Nils who had longed to see Småland. He recalls the legend of Småland's creation told by little Mats and Osa, two Småland children he met while tending geese. The legend explains how Saint Peter attempted to create Småland but produced a rocky, barren land, while God created Skåne as a fertile plain. The story highlights the contrast between the two provinces and the resourcefulness of the Småland people.
Themes in this chapter
Folklore and Swedish Heritage
The chapter centers on a traditional Swedish legend about the creation of Småland and Skåne, illustrating the cultural heritage and storytelling tradition.
Humanity and Compassion
The legend emphasizes the resilience and capability of the Småland people, created by God to thrive in a poor land, reflecting compassion for human struggle.
Characters to notice
- Nils Holgersson
Nils is traveling with the wild geese and feels disappointed that he will not see Småland. He recalls his encounters with Osa and little Mats and the legend they told him.
- Akka
Akka decides the flock must travel northward to Östergötland without delay, noting that spring has advanced rapidly.
- Osa
Osa is a Småland goose-girl who defends her province's beauty and fertility, listing its rich regions and landmarks.
- Little Mats
Little Mats is Osa's younger brother who tells the legend of Småland's creation, emphasizing the poor soil and rocky landscape, but also the cleverness of the Småland people.
- Saint Peter
Saint Peter appears in the legend as the creator of the barren part of Småland, attempting to build a land close to the sun but failing to account for night chill and erosion.
Key passages
“The wild geese had made a good trip over the sea, and had lighted in Tjust Township, in northern Småland.”
The wild geese flew across the sea and landed in Tjust, a region in northern Småland.
Describes the geese's arrival in Småland.
“Akka said instantly that there was no time in which to hunt up any of the stopping places in Småland. By the next morning they must travel northward, over Östergötland.”
Akka declared they had no time to explore Småland and must fly north to Östergötland the next morning.
Akka's decision to move on quickly.
“The boy should then see nothing of Småland, and this grieved him. He had heard more about Småland than he had about any other province, and he had longed to see it with his own eyes.”
Nils was saddened that he would not see Småland, as he had heard so much about it and wanted to experience it firsthand.
Nils's disappointment at missing Småland.
“Well, it was at that time when our Lord was creating the world. While he was doing his best work, Saint Peter came walking by.”
The legend begins when God was creating the world and Saint Peter approached him.
Opening of the creation legend.
“And so our Lord created the Smålander, and made him quick-witted and contented and happy and thrifty and enterprising and capable, that he might be able to get his livelihood in his poor country.”
God created the people of Småland to be clever, satisfied, cheerful, economical, industrious, and skilled so they could survive in their harsh land.
God's creation of the Småland people.
