Otesánek facts for kids
Otesánek is a famous Czech fairy tale. It was written by Karel Jaromír Erben in the 1800s. The story is about a scary, hungry log of wood that comes to life. Some parts of the story might remind you of tales like The Adventures of Pinocchio or Little Red Riding Hood. However, Otesánek is different from many European fairy tales. It has a tricky moral lesson that can be understood in many ways.
Contents
The Story of Otesánek
The fairy tale begins with a husband and wife. They had wanted a child for a very long time, but they had none. One day, the husband found a strange log of wood in the nearby forest. This log looked a lot like a baby. He decided to bring it home to his wife.
The Log Comes to Life
The couple was very happy when the wooden baby suddenly came to life! It immediately asked for food. At first, the parents were thrilled. Their wish for a child had finally come true.
Otesánek's Huge Appetite
But the situation quickly became difficult. The wooden baby, named Otesánek, had an endless hunger. He kept growing bigger and eating more and more. Soon, he started eating everything around him. This included all the food in the house.
Eating People
Otesánek's hunger grew so much that he began to eat people. Sadly, he even ate his own parents. Before each meal, the log would say a special rhyme. In this rhyme, he would list everything he had eaten before.
The End of Otesánek
The story ends when an old lady from the village steps in. She uses a hoe to rip open Otesánek's chest. This act kills the monster. All the people he had eaten, including his parents, were then set free.
Film Adaptation
The movie Little Otik was released in 2000. It was directed by Jan Švankmajer. This film was greatly inspired by the original Otesánek fairy tale.
