East of the Sun and West of the Moon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids East of the Sun and West of the Moon |
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By candlelight, the heroine discovers the identity of her sleeping husband.
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| Folk tale | |
| Name | East of the Sun and West of the Moon |
| Also known as | Østenfor sol og vestenfor måne |
| Data | |
| Aarne–Thompson grouping | ATU 425A (The Search for the Lost Husband) |
| Region | Norway |
| Published in | Norske folkeeventyr, by Peter Christen Asbjørnsen and Jørgen Moe |
| Related | Cupid and Psyche; Beauty and the Beast |
East of the Sun and West of the Moon (in Norwegian, Østenfor sol og vestenfor måne) is a famous Norwegian fairy tale. It was collected by Peter Christen Asbjørnsen and Jørgen Moe. These two men were well-known for gathering traditional Norwegian stories.
This tale is a type of story known as "the search for the lost husband." It shares similarities with other well-known fairy tales. These include "Beauty and the Beast" and the ancient Greek myth of "Cupid and Psyche." The story was also featured in The Blue Fairy Book in 1890, a popular collection of fairy tales.
Contents
The Story of East of the Sun and West of the Moon
A Deal with a White Bear
The story begins with a poor farmer who has many children. A large White Bear visits his home. The bear offers to make the farmer rich. In return, the farmer must give the bear his youngest and prettiest daughter.
The girl is not happy about this strange request. So, the farmer asks the bear to come back later. During this time, the farmer tries to convince his daughter to agree. She finally says yes.
Life in the Enchanted Castle
The White Bear takes the girl to a grand, enchanted castle. Every night, the bear changes into a man. He comes to her bed in human form. However, it is always dark, so she never sees his face.
After some time, the girl misses her family. The bear agrees to let her visit home. He gives her one rule: she must never speak to her mother alone. She can only talk when other people are around.
A Mother's Advice and a Broken Promise
At home, her family welcomes her warmly. Her mother tries many times to speak with her in private. Finally, she succeeds. The daughter tells her mother everything about the bear and the castle.
Her mother believes the White Bear must be a troll. Trolls are often seen as evil creatures in folklore. The mother gives her daughter some candles. She tells her to light them at night to see who is sharing her bed.
The Prince's Secret Revealed
The youngest daughter follows her mother's advice. She lights a candle and sees a very handsome prince sleeping beside her. But as she looks, three drops of melted wax fall onto him. This wakes him up.
The prince is upset. He tells her that if she had waited just one more year, he would have been free from the spell. Now, he must go to his wicked stepmother. She is the one who turned him into a bear. His stepmother lives in a castle "east of the Sun and west of the Moon." He must marry her ugly daughter, a troll princess.
A Journey to Find Her Love
The next morning, the castle is gone. The girl is alone and heartbroken. She decides to search for the prince. She comes to a huge mountain and finds an old woman playing with a golden apple. The girl asks if she knows the way to the castle "east of the Sun and west of the Moon."
The old woman does not know. But she lends the girl a horse to visit a neighbor who might know. She also gives her the golden apple. The girl visits two more old women, each living near a mountain. One has a golden carding comb, and the other has a golden spinning wheel. Neither knows the way. However, they each lend her a horse and give her their golden items.
Help from the Winds
The third old woman tells her to ask the East Wind for help. The East Wind has never been to the castle. But he thinks his brother, the West Wind, might know. The East Wind carries her to the West Wind.
The West Wind also doesn't know the way. He takes her to the South Wind. The South Wind then takes her to the North Wind. The North Wind says he once blew an aspen leaf there. He was very tired afterward. But he agrees to take her if she truly wants to go. The girl says yes, and the North Wind carries her to the distant castle.
Outsmarting the Trolls
The next morning, the girl takes out her golden apple. The troll princess, who is supposed to marry the prince, sees it. She wants to buy it. The girl agrees to sell it if she can spend the night with the prince. The troll princess agrees. But she gives the prince a sleeping drink so he won't wake up.
The same thing happens the next night. The girl pays with the golden carding-comb. She tries to wake the prince, crying and calling his name. Some townspeople held captive in the castle hear her. They tell the prince what happened.
On the third night, the girl pays with the golden spinning wheel. This time, the prince does not drink the potion. He is awake when the girl visits.
The Happy Ending
The prince tells her how to save him. He will announce that he will marry anyone who can wash the tallow drops from his shirt. Trolls, like his stepmother and her daughter, cannot do this. So, he will call for the youngest daughter. She will be able to clean the shirt, and then they can marry.
The plan works perfectly. The trolls become so angry that they burst! The prince and his new bride free the prisoners. They take the gold and silver from the castle. Then, they leave the castle "east of the Sun and west of the Moon" forever.
Retellings and Adaptations
This classic fairy tale has been retold and adapted many times. Here are a few examples:
- East o' the Sun & West o' the Moon, translated by Sir George Webbe Dasent (1910).
- East of the Sun and West of the Moon, retold by Kathleen and Michael Hague (1980).
- East, a novel by Edith Pattou (2003).
- A Court of Thorns and Roses, a popular fantasy novel by Sarah J. Maas (2015).
Film Adaptations
- In the early 1980s, Don Bluth Productions started an animated movie based on the story. However, it was never finished.
- Max von Sydow narrated a version for Rabbit Ears Productions.
- The Storyteller TV series had an episode called "The True Bride." It was inspired by similar tales.
- The 1991 film The Polar Bear King (also known as Kvitebjørn Kong Valemon) is very similar to this fairy tale.
- The Polar Bear King https://vimeo.com/169482387
Illustrations by Kay Nielsen (1914)
Images for kids
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The white bear carries his intended on his back. Illustration from The Blue Fairy Book by Henry Justice Ford.
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The North Wind carries the maiden across the stormy sea. Illustration from The Blue Fairy Book by Henry Justice Ford.
