Top 7 Essays Reflecting on the Conclusion of the Story 'The Little Match Girl' - Best Language Arts 8

Anyone who has read Hans Christian Andersen's 'The Little Match Girl' will never forget the tiny flickering match flames in the freezing New Year's Eve, connected to the impoverished girl's beautiful dream world. The story has ended, but the haunting images of those beautiful dreams linger in the minds of readers, conveyed through the compelling narrative of the author.

The conclusion of the story presents a contrast between a joyful life and the tragic death of the match girl. On New Year's Eve, due to extreme cold and hunger, she perished. The image emerges 'with rosy cheeks and lips smiling.' The next morning, as snow covered the ground, with the sunrise and the light blue sky, people happily left their homes. Before the joy and excitement of everyone, she lay dead against a cold wall, amidst the extinguished matchsticks, deeply affecting the reader's soul. This is an exceptionally unique ending, entirely different from the fairy tale's typical happily-ever-after. While fairy tales usually conclude with characters finding happiness in real life, 'The Little Match Girl' offers a tragic and poignant ending for the poor and unfortunate fate of the match girl. Yet, Andersen's talent lies in describing tragedy without evoking the character's misery and life's sorrows. The girl's departure is marked by happiness boundless, and contentment as she is loved and protected by her grandmother. Consequently, she will live forever with her. Through the detail of her death, her rosy cheeks, and smiling lips, the author affirms that the match girl did not die due to the bitter, dark reality but transcended to a brighter world. Only in death does she find liberation from life's suffering, and happiness comes when she dies with a 'smile on her lips.' What's even more miraculous, unknown to all, is the joy and happiness she experiences when she is with her grandmother, soaring towards the Supreme Being. Only Andersen could understand and appreciate this, as his heart belonged to the impoverished and unfortunate in life. Such an ending remains a tragically unforgettable imprint on the reader's heart, radiating profound humanitarian values. In contrast to the match girl's extreme unhappiness, people's indifference is also depicted.

The more we cherish her childhood dreams, the more painful her tragic death becomes. We must be grateful to Andersen for describing the girl's death with deep empathy. The light of the match flames appearing with every strike has become a radiant halo beside the pitiful girl in her final moments, dispelling all coldness, creating a moment of forgetfulness of life's pain and sorrow. When seeing the extinguished match flames turn people cold, indifferent, and lacking love, she said, 'It probably wants to warm up.'

Entering the story of 'The Little Match Girl,' readers cannot help but sense the significance of the imagery of the match flames. It represents the flame of childhood dreams for a warm family, for being well-fed and well-dressed, for joy, and for living in the love of others. This is the profound humanitarian meaning of the work. The image of her asking the grandmother to pray for her to go with her serves as a reminder to love and cherish children, ensuring that they have a happy life within the warmth, care, and appreciation of everyone.

The true match girl is indeed pitiful. In a society lacking love between people, Andersen wrote this story to express infinite condolences for the match girl and, more broadly, for the class of the poor and unfortunate. Despite the author describing the match girl's death with rosy cheeks and lips smiling, it still moves readers to tears. Although the pages of the book are closed, the images of the match girl will forever linger and exist in her and all those who have read the story. The author's message remains profoundly meaningful to this day.

The story “The Little Match Girl” is a representative work by Hans Christian Andersen. Under the poetic pen of the author, the little match girl had to face death.

The child has died, yet her cheeks remain rosy, and her lips are smiling. This depiction of death is remarkably beautiful, showcasing the happiness and contentment of the little girl. Perhaps she found peace, fulfilling her desire to live in a splendid, magical world of her own. The death of the little match girl demonstrates the humane, compassionate heart of the author towards the fate of innocent childhood, expressing sympathy, love, and appreciation for the spiritual world. In reality, the girl died pitifully, experiencing a tragic death that deeply troubles the reader's heart. She perished on the freezing New Year's Eve, lying on the street on the first day of the year while people joyfully left their homes, passing by without a care for her. She died from the cold and hunger next to a wall, a painful death, yet undoubtedly finding tranquility in her soul. Thus, with the compassionate and romantic pen of the author, through the death of the little match girl, the author aims to denounce and criticize the indifferent and cold society towards the miseries of the impoverished, especially towards children. Additionally, the author wishes to convey a message to the reader – to share love and compassion, not to be callous or indifferent to the pain and bitterness of these unfortunate children. The death of the girl will forever haunt the reader, awakening a sense of human love.

With his lofty, gentle writing style, Hans Christian Andersen has become a renowned author for people of all backgrounds and eras.

The work “The Little Match Girl” by Hans Christian Andersen leaves an unforgettable image of the little match girl with small, flickering match flames. It was a freezing New Year's Eve associated with the sweetest and happiest dreams of the poor, unfortunate girl. Although the story has ended, the lingering impact of the girl's dreams and memories, especially her tragic death, remains vivid in the reader's mind.

The narrative concludes with life appearing joyous, yet the little match girl meets a tragic end. On that New Year's Eve, she endured hunger and cold throughout the day, afraid to return home due to the fear of her father. Consequently, she perished, but with “rosy cheeks and lips smiling.” On the bright morning of the new year, snow covered the ground, the sky turned blue, and people joyfully left their homes.

Amidst the excitement and happiness of others, the girl died near a wall on the sidewalk, surrounded by used and unused matchsticks. This imagery deeply penetrates the reader's soul. It is a conclusion starkly different from the fairy tales where characters find happiness in real life. Instead, the little match girl faces a tragic demise, full of sorrow.

However, the author's skill lies in portraying tragedy without evoking horror and the sorrows of life. The little match girl passed away in boundless happiness and contentment, surrounded by the love and care of her grandmother. The depiction of her death with rosy cheeks and smiling lips attests that she did not die; she simply transitioned from a bitter, dark reality to a brighter world.

Only death can liberate her from the suffering of life and bring happiness. The author, Andersen, deeply understands and appreciates the lives of the impoverished and unfortunate in society. The story's ending, though tragic, radiates profound human values.

Contrary to the girl's unhappiness in death is the indifference of society. Witnessing those poorly burning matchsticks, people become cold, indifferent, lacking compassion, uttering only a chilling statement: “Maybe it wants to warm up!”. In this indifferent society, lacking human warmth, Andersen wrote this story to convey profound humanitarian thoughts. Partly to express boundless regret for the little match girl, her fate, and the plight of the impoverished in society, and partly to console and alleviate their pain. It also serves to condemn and accuse the heartlessness of those lacking empathy in society.

The image of the death of the little match girl is always the most poignant, despite the author describing rosy cheeks and smiling lips. Even though the book's pages are closed, the image of the little match girl lingers in the souls of all who have read the story.

Some stories, once read, seem to leave no impression on us. However, there are stories that, when closed, continue to make us ponder, move us, and instill a desire to do something. The short story “The Little Match Girl” is one of those stories. It is the open ending that constantly evokes sympathy for the fate of the little match girl.

Hans Christian Andersen is a writer of 'Every time, every people, and every house' with stories told for children. His stories are light, fresh, exuding the most human love, especially for the poor, and a belief in the ultimate triumph of goodness in the world. He is called a modern fairy tale writer for children.

The story 'The Little Match Girl' was written in 1845 when he had been writing for over twenty years, and his name was renowned. It belongs to a genre that is both real and imaginary, with fairy-tale and magical colors, rich in sentimental emotions, evoking a love and a valuable humane beauty.

Some argue that the story should end when the girl and her grandmother ascend to the heavenly court, without hunger or threatening sadness for the girl. However, the Danish writer did not let the story end there. The story concludes with the image of the little match girl dying in the cold with 'rosy cheeks and lips smiling.' With the author's compassion, the ending is deemed necessary. If the story ended with 'They went to the heavenly court,' its meaning would be diminished. Although the little match girl died in the cold, the author described her as beautiful, and, moreover, she smiles with a contented smile. Her death is bitter, but the image of her in death reduces the bitterness of the story. This image has sparked deep associations in the reader's mind. Perhaps, in death, when ascending to heaven, the girl met her grandmother, lived in love and care, and no longer suffered from hunger or the beatings of her father. Thus, the conclusion shows the author's sympathetic view and romanticism, rewriting this poignant story, making the reader feel less pity, bidding farewell to the little girl with joy and hoping that spark would ignite after each match is struck.

If the story ended with the paragraph where the two go to heaven, the reader would not see the contrast between the innocent, beautiful appearance of the little match girl, like a fairy, with the cold wind of the New Year's Day. The reader would also not see the contrast between the cold, indifferent attitude of people witnessing this pitiful scene. The girl was very lonely, orphaned, and even callous, yet people were indifferent and cold towards the fate of the little match girl: “On New Year's morning, she appeared on the body of a little girl sitting amidst matchboxes; one of which had burned out completely. People said to each other: 'Maybe it wants to warm up!'...'. On that morning of the first day of the year, people rushed past the little match girl without anyone feeling pity for her fate. They were cold, indifferent. It was a society lacking in compassion, even for an unfortunate girl like the little match girl, they showed no sympathy. This detail demonstrated Andersen's profound human values. The writer spoke out to criticize the harsh, hypocritical, and cold reality of society at that time.

The beauty of the conclusion is not only the reader witnessing the cruelty and lack of compassion in Danish society at that time, but also showing the author's compassionate heart: '... but no one knows the wonders she has seen, especially the glorious scene when the two ascended to welcome the joys of the new year.' The author allowed the little girl to see the wonders, the joys of the new year that she did not enjoy while alive. It can be said that the story's conclusion is imbued with a deep humanistic spirit and love of Hans Christian Andersen for the fate of poor girls like the little match girl.

The conclusion of the story 'The Little Match Girl' is beautiful, meaningful, and significant. It is also a conclusion, but unlike 'Lao Hac' by Nam Cao, where the story ends with the painful and tragic death of Lao Hac, in this story, the author opens up new thoughts and contemplation for the reader. It can be said that the story has an open, both conclusive and inconclusive ending, full of human values.

Reading the story “The Little Match Girl,” readers will undoubtedly be deeply impressed by the ending. The little match girl died from the cold on New Year's Eve. On the first day of the new year, her body appeared amidst matchboxes, one of which had burned out completely. No one knows the wonders she saw, especially the glorious scene when the two ascended to welcome the joys of the new year.

She entered the realm of great light, living in a world of light, love, where there was a kind and loving grandmother, warm hearths, sumptuous meals, beautifully decorated Christmas trees, living under the boundless compassion and mercy of God. She permanently escaped the suffering on the earthly plane, the torment of hunger, the biting cold, loneliness, and unhappiness. She departed contentedly with 'rosy cheeks and lips smiling.'

That face will continue to haunt many readers who love the story. The girl departed in joy, forgiveness, and tolerance. She smiled farewell to everything, forgave everything: the terrible curses, the lashings, the cold and indifferent humanity... She left like an angel, after enduring the world's suffering, returned to God, to the heavenly country. In that aspect, the story's ending is a warm, humane, and profound conclusion. Andersen did not use the wings of imagination to escape but instead bowed down to the harsh reality of life, to sympathize and love the unfortunate fates, to recognize and appreciate the bright and pure dreams of human beings.

But it is not an entirely happy ending. Andersen's story ends, but the reader's mind still lingers, ponders, and reflects on people, life, human relationships, and the journey of life. The writer does not shy away from the harsh reality. The girl with that innocent, pure soul died, died on New Year's Eve, in the cold, in the hunger that tortured her. A new year promises new beginnings, but the girl ended her journey right at the threshold of the new year. There was no opportunity, no future for her. Before dying of hunger and cold, she died because of the coldness, indifference, cruelty, and selfishness of human beings. She dared not go home for fear of her father's curses and beatings. She stood there, desolate, hopeless, fighting against the cold in the gaze of indifferent, apathetic passersby. She was alone, sad when everyone else was happy, joyous in welcoming the new year. She bid farewell to life, bidding farewell because no one loved her, no one cared for, protected her. Her death leaves an enduring sadness, a poignant question in everyone's heart: how to ensure that on this earth there will never be unhappy children like the little match girl?

The story, gentle and simple, raises profound issues, expressing high human values through the writer's love and appreciation for human beings. The story's ending is like a lingering, poignant question, like a suggestion the writer sends to readers of many generations, across every corner of the world, about living, attitude, feelings towards those around us, especially the unfortunate lives.

“The Little Match Girl” is a profoundly humane story. Firstly, it portrays compassion for unfortunate fates like the little girl. Then, it criticizes a society growing indifferent, gradually losing the love for fellow beings. This is evident in the story's conclusion.

The ending of “The Little Match Girl” goes like this: “On the following morning, snow still covered the ground, but the sun rose, bright and dazzling in the pale blue sky. People happily emerged from their homes. In that chilly morning, near a wall, one could see a girl with rosy cheeks and lips smiling. She died from the cold on New Year's Eve. On the first day of the new year, her body appeared amidst matchboxes, one of which had burned out completely. No one knows the wonders she saw, especially the glorious scene when the two ascended to welcome the joys of the new year.” Her death leaves readers with much lamentation.

Behind the story's conclusion, the writer wants to convey many beautiful humanitarian meanings. An innocent, pure girl died on a bitterly cold winter night. When a new year arrives, it marks the end of her tragically unfortunate life. The fact is, there is no happiness in the future when a person ends their life with death. The girl didn't just die from hunger and the cold. She died because of the coldness and indifference of the people in society at that time. From loved ones to strangers. She dared not go home because if she couldn't sell matches, her father would scold or beat her. Alone, she stood in a cold corner, but no one cared. In the electrified houses, lights glowed, tempting with the scent of sumptuous meals. People moved about the crowded streets, but no one stopped to help the little match girl get a matchbox.

But it doesn't stop there. Although the little match girl has departed, a smile remains on her lips. This detail evokes hope for a miracle. The smile on her face seems like contentment and satisfaction. Surely, her grandmother has come, taking the little match girl to heaven. In that world, she will no longer fear her cruel father's lashes. Nor endure the cold of winter alone. She will live in the care, love of her mother, her grandmother. The image of the little match girl here appears like an angel, having endured the world's suffering, returning to God, to the heavenly country. This is the humanity of the story that Andersen wants to convey to readers.

Through the above analysis, it can be seen that “The Little Match Girl” is a story rich in meaning. It has portrayed the longing for love and happiness of human beings.

“The Little Match Girl” is one of the exemplary works by the writer Andersen. Perhaps, when reading this story, the readers will not forget the profound meaning embedded in the conclusion.

The story tells that on a bitterly cold New Year's Eve, a barefoot girl, with feet on the ground, hungry, had to sell matches. She was an orphan, her mother and even her beloved grandmother had passed away. She dared not go home because she feared her father would beat her. Cold and hungry, the girl huddled in a corner, gently striking a match to warm herself. The first match gave her a warm feeling, like sitting by a fireplace. She quickly struck the second match, revealing a sumptuous dining table. Upon striking the third match, a Christmas tree appeared. The fourth match, when lit, showed her grandmother with a gentle face. These illusions quickly vanished after the matches went out. She hastily struck all the matches, hoping to hold onto her grandmother.

The story concludes with the heartbreaking death of the little match girl. On the next morning, near a cold wall, people saw a girl with rosy cheeks and lips smiling, seemingly very happy. But she died from the cold. What caused the death of the little match girl? Firstly, it must be mentioned, the indifference of the family members, especially the father who forced the girl to sell matches on a freezing Christmas night. She couldn't return home when feeling cold, fearing her father's lashes if she didn't sell the matches. Simultaneously, the death of the little match girl is also due to the indifference of people in society at that time. Suppose someone had been willing to buy matches from her that night. Then she might have been able to return home without enduring the freezing cold on the street. The coldness, indifference of people indirectly killed the girl.

The death of the little match girl is an indictment of a contemporary society with seemingly indifferent people to the misfortunes of others. But not stopping there, the humane aspect of the story lies where Andersen has constructed an open ending. The image of the girl's death but still smiling—a smile when reunited with her grandmother—is the author's imaginative attempt to alleviate the pain of the story. Though the girl has died, she will be with her loved ones, her mother, and grandmother. In heaven, the little match girl will receive their love. This ending reflects the dream of a happy life for humanity.

In conclusion, the ending of the story “The Little Match Girl” has demonstrated the humane values that the author wants to convey to the readers.