Reflections on The Little Match Girl

Prompt: Reflections on The Little Match Girl

2. Reflection on the tale 'The Little Match Girl,' version 2:

Anyone who has read 'The Little Match Girl' by Danish author Hans Christian Andersen will never forget the tiny flickering match flames in the freezing New Year's Eve night, entwined with the impoverished girl's beautiful imaginary world. The story's ending is truly sad, but the haunting power of those beautiful dreams lingers in the reader's mind through the compelling storytelling and vivid descriptions by Andersen.

In the darkness and the bone-chilling cold of Denmark, one can vividly see a girl with pale violet lips and a famished belly, barefoot, walking the streets. An orphaned girl in misery, afraid to go home without selling any matches, as she will be beaten by her father. The author creates a vivid sense of life by immersing us in the emotional moments of the girl.

The first striking impression evokes empathy as the image of the girl appears almost ethereal amidst the vastness of the night on the brink of New Year's Eve. When 'every house is lit up with lights and the streets are filled with the aroma of roasting goose,' the girl reminisces about the beautiful past when her kind grandmother was still alive. The charming house with spring decorations contrasts sharply with the grim reality of the lives of the father and daughter in a dark corner, poverty leading to the dispersal of their wealth. To escape the cold, she 'huddles in a corner,' 'pulls her feet under her,' yet the fear is perhaps more potent than the cold, making her feel 'even colder.' She cannot go home because she knows her father 'will surely beat her.' 'At home, it's just as cold,' and the most terrifying thing for the girl is not the lack of warmth but the absence of affection. It's truly pitiful when her small frame futilely battles the freezing sensation outside and the coldness from within her heart, causing her 'fingers to stiffen.'

At that moment, I merely wished for something tiny: 'Oh! If only I could strike a match to warm up a bit against the cold?' But it seemed I lacked the courage because doing so would ruin an unsold matchbox. Yet, she eventually 'took the risk of striking one,' initiating a journey of imagination transcending harsh reality. Her dreams began by gazing into the flames: 'initially blue, gradually fading, turning white, glowing pink around the wooden stick, a dazzling sight.' That light overshadowed the feeling of the vast darkness, revealing an image of 'an iron stove with gleaming copper reliefs.' Her joy surfaced in the hallucination of 'fire burning cheerfully, radiating gentle warmth.' A simple dream in contrast to the harsh reality of 'snow covering the ground, the biting wind... in the bitterly cold winter night.' The longing to sit for hours 'before a stove' vanished as the 'fire extinguished, the stove disappeared.' The moment she 'shivered all over' while imagining her father's curses is heart-wrenching. Darkness once again shrouded the soul's gloomy hues.

Perhaps that's why the author allowed her to light a second match, igniting a small joy even if only in her imagination. Besides battling the cold, the girl had to endure hunger as no morsel had entered her stomach all day. Thus, the radiant light of the match transformed the drab wall into a 'fabric curtain.' Happiness in warm homes came to her when she saw: 'The dining table set, a pristine white tablecloth, precious porcelain dishes on the table, and even a roasted goose.' If only all those imaginary images turned into reality, she would be ecstatic, and when 'the goose jumped off the plate,' it would bring her a sumptuous meal to overcome the gut-wrenching hunger. However, once again, illusions vanished, and she faced a 'desolate, freezing street, blanketed in white snow, the biting wind howling.' Moreover, she witnessed the indifferent coldness of passersby, a contrasting image portrayed by the author, making us ache for the unfortunate child.

And once again, the next match ignited, allowing her to live in the most beautiful dreams of a child. In a life struggling every minute to survive, she had to bid farewell to the joys of childhood play. The light from the match radiantly shone, giving her 'a Christmas tree,' like bestowing upon her a paradise of childhood: 'Thousands of brightly lit candles, sparkling on the fresh green branches, and many colorful paintings like those displayed in a shop.' The ironic twist is that all those beautiful images she could only look at but not touch because everything was just an illusion, like the stars in the sky she couldn't reach. Our hearts choke with the storyteller's narrative as the child is slowly fading and about to succumb to the deadly cold of the Snow Queen's realm.

3. Reflection on the tale 'The Little Match Girl,' version 3:

Within us, many have likely read 'The Swan's Flock,' 'The Little Mermaid,'... by Andersen, the renowned Danish writer of the 19th century. He is the storyteller of 'every era, every person, and every home,' crafting tales for children.

The Northern flavor, with snowflakes, swan wings, mermaids, magical match flames,... seems to transport our childhood into a realm of fantastical dreams, incredibly beautiful dreams.

'The Little Match Girl' was penned by Andersen in 1845, after over two decades as a prolific writer, a globally acclaimed name. It belongs to the genre of tales blending reality and fantasy, intertwining fairytale enchantment with profound poetic essence, evoking precious human compassion and beauty. The match girl perished in the snow, with rosy cheeks and lips like a smiling dream, destined to be cradled in mythical dreams!

Readers often pondered: where did the baby's mother go? Many speculated the child was orphaned. Her most beautiful childhood was the time spent with her kind grandmother in a charming house adorned with spring blossoms. Her life turned tragic after her grandmother's demise, living with her coarse and miserly father, she had to 'huddle in a dark corner, constantly hearing curses and insults.'

Andersen takes us along the match-selling journey of the little girl. A poignant moment depicts extreme poverty, expressing the utmost misery of a child. It was a New Year's Eve night with 'intense cold, falling snow.' She ventures out barefoot, initially wearing 'a pair of worn-out shoes,' but in a moment, one shoe is crushed by a passing carriage, and the other is snatched by a stranger kid, thrown into the air, claiming it's for his future dog's 'crib.' Selling matches on a freezing night, her tiny bare feet soon turn 'reddish and then purple from the cold.' Anyone witnessing her couldn't help but feel compassion.

The author creates two contrasting scenes on New Year's Eve. A child spends the entire day selling matches without success, 'hungry and freezing,' wandering the streets, receiving no kindness. Her hair and back covered in snow. In contrast, every house's windows 'shine brightly,' and the street is filled with the aroma of roasting goose. It's two contrasting scenes, making the story soaked with bitter sweetness! Walking the match-selling path on New Year's Eve, the child lives in solitude, sadness. A happy past returns in her soul. The old house with spring decorations, the image of her kind grandmother, warm and joyful! Where are they now? The current home is dilapidated; she hears curses all day long. The fate of the match-selling child is truly bitter and pitiful! A childhood steeped in tears. Behind life's scenes, the match-selling child's fate on New Year's Eve is an ever-watchful gaze of Andersen with many mysteries and endless concerns.

The little match girl, beyond the cold, loneliness,... bears a spiritual pain, incessantly tormented, a profound and heavy burden. At home, she faces her father's constant insults, wanders in the snowy night, on New Year's Eve, if she fails to sell a few matchboxes or doesn't receive a penny from anyone, she will surely be beaten by her father! This unhappiness is terrifying, consistently weighing on her soul. Knowing that 'parental love is the paradise of childhood' reveals the depth of Danish writer's compassionate heart. He gently reminds those basking in parental love to empathize with the mental anguish, the pain of unfortunate children like this match-selling girl. Sharing with fellow beings is also happiness.

The most touching, the best part is when the author speaks of the match-selling girl's dreams. She struck an entire matchbox on her hand. Initially, 'taking a risk' to strike one match, intending to 'warm up a bit against the cold.' How could the flame of a match resist an entire night of thick snow mist? Initially, she only saw, only discovered the match flame 'blue,' then 'fading to white,' 'glowing pink around the wooden stick, a delightful sight.' From a small, simple joy of a poor child, she entered into magical dreams. Each match from the child's hand striking is a 'magical' flame. The first match 'shining like rose coal' makes her 'seem to be sitting in front of an iron stove with copper reliefs sparkling.' The fire in that stove 'burns cheerfully and radiates gentle warmth.' It is also the dream of impoverished souls in the bitterly cold winter! A writer with a beautiful soul, a compassionate heart, and rich imagination can truly empathize with poor children through such simple dreams.

On the second matchstick's flare, my soul embarked on a journey to a cozy home adorned with 'curtains made of colorful fabric,' featuring an elegant feast. A dining table draped in pristine white, precious porcelain dishes, and a roasted goose. With my stomach growling, the most miraculous sight was the goose leaping off the plate, carrying a fork and knife on its back, advancing towards me. The match extinguished, and the dream faded. The match-selling child remained alone under the snowy sky on New Year's Eve. Whoever holds a certain compassion will shed tears contemplating the fate of the child after the second matchstick extinguished, dreams fading.

Once again, the third matchstick ignited. The child envisioned before them a splendidly decorated Christmas tree with thousands of sparkling candles on its lush green branches. As the child reached out towards the tree, the match went out. This time, the candles soared high and 'transformed into stars in the sky.' The narrative and emotion of the story brought a new intensity. From the candles on the Christmas tree (in the dream), thoughts drifted to the sparkling starry sky, and then wandered towards a star changing its position, a soul that had 'ascended to the sky with the Almighty.' Perceiving the image of the Almighty in Andersen's narrative is a symbol of faith directed towards the infinitely lofty, sacred, and beautiful. The Almighty in the dream, not in the beliefs of many religions, similar to Fairies or Buddhas in Vietnamese folklore.

Sinking into a magical childhood dream as the fourth matchstick is struck. In the green flames emanating from the match, the child 'clearly sees their grandmother smiling at them.' And this time as well, the match burns and fades, dissolving the dream: 'The match extinguishes, and the illusion of brightness on the child's face also vanishes.' Over a century has passed since Andersen wrote this story (1845), but readers across the globe—adorable little students—still seem to hear somewhere the prayer of the pitiful match-selling girl. The child is still obedient, dear grandmother! 'Grandchild pleads with the grandmother, asking the Almighty to be kind and bring the child back to the grandmother.'

Flickering in the realm of imagination. As the night grows darker, the cold intensifies, and the snow thickens on the ground. Matchsticks, one after another, illuminate the scene. The grandmother appears large and gracefully old. Holding the child's hand, they soar high, high above, 'no longer threatened by hunger, cold, or sorrow.' The two generations have returned to the embrace of the Almighty.

Andersen's talent lies in narrating the death of the match-selling child, perishing from hunger and cold in the snow, without evoking gruesome horror. She hasn't died, and she won't die! Together with her grandmother, she transcended this bitter, harsh, and desolate reality to step into a new world, brighter and happier. It's her dream; ascending to heaven with the compassionate Almighty. The image of the match-selling child lying in the snow, among numerous unlit matches, including a bundle that burned out, 'with rosy cheeks and smiling lips' on the first day of the Lunar New Year, is a profoundly meaningful scene, invoking deep compassion. The sky is light blue, the sun shines brightly, and the snow still blankets the ground. People cheerfully leave their homes, saying to each other: 'Maybe she wanted to warm up!' The earth and the sky remain beautiful. There are still those indifferent to the pain of their fellow beings. Life still presents hardships like 'snow still covering the ground.' Who could know 'the splendid scene when the two generations soar to welcome the joys of the new year?'

Reading 'The Little Match Girl,' the imagery of the flame - the match is the most glittering. It is the flame of childhood dreams about a warm family hearth, about being well-fed and happy, enjoying good food and play, dreaming of the familial love that grandparents, parents provide to their children and grandchildren. From the flame - the match has transformed into the stars in the sky... to illuminate the way for the little girl ascending to the Almighty. Through the flame and the bright stars, Andersen sympathized, praised, and cherished the simple or magical dreams of childhood, the humanistic beauty of 'The Little Match Girl' is skillfully portrayed through the imagery of the flame.'And he also gently reminds people to share love, not to be callous or indifferent to the pain and misfortune of the little ones. Andersen has a light writing style. The human values of the story 'The Little Match Girl' help us see that he is a writer for 'every era, every people, and every home,' as Victor Hugo, the great French writer, once said. Let's think about and strive for a tomorrow—a beautiful tomorrow for childhood in warmth, happiness, and singing, in peace.

4. Thoughts on the story of The Little Match Girl, example 4:

One of the writers intimately connected with the childhood of children worldwide that we cannot overlook is the renowned Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen. And surely within us, we all recall the image of the little match girl, seemingly etched in everyone's memory. The little match girl, but the essence within that character carries valuable life lessons and insights into humanity.

The character of the little match girl is the central image, permeating the entire work. The author utilizes it to convey messages about life to the readers.

The author succeeded in constructing a vivid typical character along with the setting in the work. It's a haunting image of a pitiful girl with no place to seek warmth in the freezing, skin-cutting air amidst the snowy street. She becomes even more solitary when placed next to the warm atmosphere of other families.

Amidst the space where 'Every house was brightly lit, and the street was filled with the aroma of roasting goose,' the little match girl reminisces about the past, a time when her grandmother was alive. The apricot blossom thread adorning the house evokes warmth and happiness. Her past life stands in stark contrast to her current existence with a father filled with darkness and the scent of hell. Despite the cold and hunger, she desperately wants to go home but fears her father's punishment for not selling any matchboxes. The girl appears innocent but has lived in deprivation, both materially and spiritually. This stark contrast intensifies her ardent yearning for warmth and comfort in the winter days: 'Ah! Now, if only I could strike a match to warm up a bit.' To us, it might seem like a small dream amidst the bustling urban life, but that detail alone is enough to bring tears for the unfortunate child. She daringly strikes a match, 'at first blue, gradually disappearing, turning white, glowing pink around the wooden stick, shining brightly, bringing some happiness to her.' Yet, the harshness of the cold weather extinguishes that small flame.

She continues to strike the second match with the desire for a warm life. The scene of 'many bright, sparkling candle flames on the lush green branches, and many colorful paintings like those displayed in a shop' appears beautiful but is still overshadowed by the weather, causing it to wither away.

Just a tiny flame to warm up, just a small dream for life to have a bit of hope, but everything was ruthlessly stripped away by the external environment, society out there, along with the hustle and bustle... all callously took away that tiny happiness. Truly heartbreaking for the fate of a childhood forced to grow up early, to endure the hardships of life prematurely. In the end, she just wanted to trust and lean on the very beloved grandmother she lost. The appearance of the third matchstick is the image of the grandmother with open arms welcoming her. And she went with her to a realm of happiness, to escape the crushing force of this life. That moment is when she bids farewell to earthly existence, and Andersen humanizes, exaggerates her death as an expression of compassion, emotion, and affection for her, for all the unfortunate children beyond this life.

With a very simple writing style, a pure language, children's writer Andersen successfully crafted the character of the little match girl with all the compassion and love. Through this, we understand and appreciate more the happiness meant for children today.

5. Thoughts on The Little Match Girl story, example 5:

An-dec-xen is renowned as the grandfather of fairy tales, the great writer of Denmark. His stories are not only for children but in every tale for children, there are humane lessons for adults. He has many famous works, one of which must be mentioned: the short story 'The Little Match Girl.' Standing out in the work is the pitiful image of the little match girl.

Firstly, the little match girl is depicted in a scene of poverty and hardship. Orphaned early, she lives with her father and grandmother. Yet, the person who loves her the most also leaves her behind to journey to heaven. Living with a drug-addicted father, she is forced to work daily to earn money for him. A little girl too small to endure such labor. A girl deprived of family love.

The tiny match girl endures countless sufferings and difficulties, even on Christmas Day—a day of warm family reunions. In the freezing, snowy storm, while everyone is dressed warmly and brightly, she walks with bare feet on the snow-covered ground. Her feet are red from the cold. She wears tattered clothes, bareheaded without a hat to shield her head from the snow. Looking at her outward appearance, it's truly pitiful.

She constantly invites people around to buy matches, but no one cares for the pitiful girl. Here we see a deep condemnation in Andersen's writing about those who live hurriedly, lacking in human love, overlooking small lives. She is cold, hungry, and freezing but dares not go home for fear of her father's punishment for not selling any matchboxes.

She gazes at the illuminated street, at the warmly decorated houses, making the reader feel a deep sense of pity. The author sketches contrasting lines to emphasize the pitiful, deprived nature of the little match girl. When 'every house was brightly lit, and the street was filled with the aroma of roasting goose,' the girl recalls the beautiful past when her kind grandmother was alive. Memories emerge briefly but enough to make her smile in the cold. However, the more beautiful the past, the more pitiable and poignant the present becomes.

The little match girl is most deeply felt during the moments of striking the matches. The first match, initially greenish, gradually fades, turns white, and glows pink around the wooden stick, shining brightly and bringing a vision of 'an iron stove with copper ornaments.'

Her joy comes in the illusion of 'flames burning joyfully and emitting a gentle warmth.' A simple dream of sitting in front of a warm stove is beyond her reach. The harsh reality before her is thick, white snow and a freezing winter that cuts through the skin. The light goes out, and darkness surrounds her.

She strikes the second match, and the radiant light transforms the gray wall into a 'colorful fabric curtain.' Happiness in warm homes comes to her when she sees: 'The table set, a pure white tablecloth, precious porcelain dishes, and even a roasted goose.' Enduring not only the cold but also hunger, her practical desire is as deep as her pitiable hunger and cold. However, reality soon encircles her again. She faces 'the deserted, cold, snow-covered streets, and the biting wind.' Not only that, she witnesses the indifferent coldness of passersby, a contrasting image vividly depicted by the writer, evoking pain for the unfortunate child.

And she strikes another match. The match brightens, and the area is filled with radiant light. The light from the match creates a splendid glow, giving her 'a Christmas tree,' like entering a paradise of childhood: 'Thousands of brightly lit candles, sparkling on green and lush branches, and many colorful paintings as dazzling as those displayed in stores.' The match quickly goes out, taking away the newfound joy. She hurriedly strikes another match against the wall. A green light emanates, and the little girl clearly sees her grandmother smiling at her. '- Grandma! The child exclaims, 'Take me with you! I know that when the match goes out, you'll also disappear, just like the stove, the roasted goose, and the Christmas tree from a moment ago. But please, don't leave me here. Before you ascended to the kind Lord, we were so happy together! Back then, you told me that if I behaved well, I would meet you again. Grandma, I plead with you; please ask the merciful Lord to take me back to you. Surely, He won't refuse.'

After Reflecting on the story of The Little Match Girl, you can step into Taking on the role of the match girl and retelling The Little Match Girl or explore Stepping into the shoes of the match girl and narrating a different ending to reinforce your understanding.