The Elf Mound

Infobox Book |
name = The Elf Mound
title_orig = Danish: "Elverhøi"
translator =


image_caption = Vilhelm Pedersen illustration
author = Hans Christian Andersen
country = Denmark
language = Danish
series =
genre = Fairy tale
published_in =
publication_type =
publisher = C.A. Reitzel
media_type = Print
pub_date = 7 April 1845
english_pub_date =
preceded_by =
followed_by =

"The Elf Mound" ( _da. Elverhøi) is a fairy tale by the Danish poet and author Hans Christian Andersen about a feast held in an elf mound for the Goblin Chief of Norway and his two sons, both of whom are expected to select elf brides. The title is sometimes translated into English as "The Elf Hill". The tale was published in 1845.

Plot summary

Two lizards scramble about the entrance to the Elf Mound, commenting on the hustle and bustle within. They have heard the elf maidens are practicing new dances and both wonder the reason why. An old maid elf hurries out and summons a raven to deliver invitations to an important event. The elf maidens begin their misty dances. The dishes for the night's festivities include skewered frogs, fungus salad made of mushroom seed, and hemlock. The king polishes his crown and tells his inquisitive youngest daughter that he has arranged marriages between two of his daughters and two of the sons of the Goblin Chief of Norway, who all arrive at that moment with pomp. The feast is held and the two sons prove rowdy and boisterous. The elf maidens are paraded as potential brides, declaiming their most notable talents. The Goblin Chief is so delighted he chooses one for his wife. Dawn approaches, and the old maid elf wants to close the shutters. The two sons of the Goblin King hurry outside to continue their tomfoolery and horseplay, leaving without selecting brides.

Publication

The tale was first published by C.A. Reitzel in Copenhagen 7 April 1845as a part of "New Fairy Tales. First Volume. Third Collection. 1845." ("Nye Eventyr. Første Bind. Tredie Samling. 1845."). "The Elf Mound" was the first tale in the collection that included: (in contents order) "The Red Shoes" ("De røde Skoe"), "The Jumpers" ("Springfyrene"), "The Shepherdess and the Chimney Sweep" ("Hyrdinden og Skorsteensfeieren"), and "Holger Danske" ("Holger Danske"). The tale was re-published 18 December 1849 as a part of "Fairy Tales. 1850." ("Eventyr. 1850."), and again 30 March 1863 as a part of "Fairy Tales and Stories. Second Volume. 1863." ("Eventyr og Historier. Andet Bind. 1863."). [ [http://www.andersen.sdu.dk/vaerk/register/info_e.html?vid=71 Hans Christian Andersen Center: Hans Christian Andersen: The Elf Mound] ]

See also

*List of works by Hans Christian Andersen
*Vilhelm Pedersen, first illustrator of Andersen's fairy tales

References

External links

* [http://www.andersen.sdu.dk/vaerk/hersholt/TheElfMound_e.html "The Elf Mound"] Jean Hersholt's English translation
* [http://www.adl.dk/adl_pub/vaerker/cv/e_vaerk/e_vaerk.xsql?ff_id=22&id=2481&hist=fmE&nnoc=adl_pub "Elverhøi"] Original Danish text
* [http://museum.odense.dk/andersen/manuskript/visning.asp?inventarnr=HCA/XVIII-45-A&sprog=engelsk Original manuscript (Odense City Museums)]