Tuesday 10 December 2013

The Devoted Friend







    The fairy tale “The Devoted Friend” is story about two friends. The liner told this story to the water-rat.
        Once upon a time there was an honest little fellow. His name was Hans. He had the friend who was a miller. He was his best friend. The miller always said to Hans that real friends should have everything in common. Hans thought that there couldn’t be a better and more devoted friend than the miller. Thought the miller had a lot of things in his mill and lived well, he didn’t give anything to Hans. But Hans didn’t care for it.
    Hans liked working in his garden with his flowers. When flowers grew up, Hans used to sell them in the bazaar. But once the winter came and if Hans wanted to survive he also had to sell a part of his things. So he sold his favorite wheelbarrow too.
    In spring the miller learnt about it. He was shocked so he promised that he would give his wheelbarrow to Hans.
-                      -So do real friends,- the miller said.
    For thanks that he would give his wheelbarrow, the miller asked Hans to give him flowers. He wanted the basked to be full of flowers. Hans didn’t have much flowers, but he gave them to friend. After all, real friends do so.
    Some days later the miller asked Hans to help him again. That day Hans had important work in his garden. He had to water his flowers. If flowers wouldn‘t be watered- Hans wouldn‘t be able to sell them. But miller didn’t care that. After all Hans agreed to help to the friend.
    After that the miller asked Hans to give him hand again, and again. He reminded him he was going to give him his wheelbarrow.
    After all one night the miller ran to Hans home again and started to cry. He told that his son felt down and hurt himself. And also he said that his son needed a doctor. The doctor lived far away from them so the miller asked Hans to go to him and invite to his place. Hans agreed, but he asked the miller to give him miller’s lantern. The miller didn’t agreed, because his lantern was new and he didn’t want something happen to it. Though there was a very cold and dark night, Hans went to the doctors house. When  he  atlast travelled there, he told the doctor what had happened. Doctor agreed to help. He ordered his big boots, his lantern and they went to help the miller’s son.
    The weather went worst and worst. Soon Hans couldn’t see anything. He lagged behind the doctor. Then Hans got to a place where were a lot of dark holes and these holes were full with water. Hans was wandering until he fell into one of the holes of water and sank.
    Hans was found next morning. Everybody went to his funeral. The miller mourned Hans most of all...



1.     What are the animals talking in the beginning of the story?

The mother duck tries to teach her little ducks how to stand on their heads in the water, but ducks pay no attention to their mother. She tries to explain them that if they don’t listen to their mother- they will never be accepted into a good society. After that the water-rat, the Green liner and the duck started talking about their families and the liner started telling the story about devoted friend.

2.     What does the author (Oscar Wilde) wants to tell the reader (what is the moral of the story)? Why? 

I think here can be two morals. One of them: excessive trust to each other can destroy yourself. As we know in this story Hans dies because of the miller’s guilt. And another: if you always use someone to do your work- you will regret for that. Because in this story the miller regret for his actions.

3.     What are the animals discussing in the end of the story? What are their emotions/reactions?

The animals are talking about the story’s moral. The water-rat didn’t see the moral of the story, and she’s quite annoyed of that. 

4.     What are your thoughts and feelings after the story? 

I like that the story is instructive and forcing the reader to think hard. It was very interesting to read it.