Rewards and Fairies facts for kids

1913 Macmillan 'Dominions' edition

Rewards and Fairies is a historical fantasy book written by Rudyard Kipling. It was first published in 1910. The book's title comes from an old poem called "Farewell, Rewards and Fairies" by Richard Corbet. This poem is even mentioned by the children in Kipling's earlier book, Puck of Pook's Hill.

Rewards and Fairies takes place about a year after the events in Puck of Pook's Hill. The book is a collection of short stories set in different historical times. These stories are connected by a modern-day narrative. The main characters are two children, Dan and Una. They live in the Weald area of Sussex, England, near Kipling's own home, Bateman's.

Dan and Una meet Puck, a magical creature. Puck uses his magic to bring real and fictional people from Sussex's past to life. These characters then share stories about the history of the area. Sometimes, these stories include elements of the supernatural. Each story in the book is introduced and followed by a poem. Some very famous poems are included, like If—, Cold Iron, and The Way through the Woods.

Exploring the Stories and Poems

A Magical Start: Charms and Introductions

The book begins with a poem called A Charm. It suggests a way to find hidden wonders in everyday places. After this, there's a short introduction that reminds readers about the characters and events from Puck of Pook's Hill.

Cold Iron: A Fairy Tale and a Poem

In the story "Cold Iron," Dan and Una meet Puck again. Puck then tells them a tale about a young person taken by fairies. This person's future depends on the first piece of iron they touch. The poem Cold Iron follows this story. It talks about how different metals affect human life. The poem repeats the line, " 'Iron—Cold Iron—is master of men all!' "

Gloriana: Meeting Queen Elizabeth I

The poem The Two Cousins hints at the story to come. It mentions how loyal people are to their Queen and the sacrifices they make. In the story "Gloriana," Dan and Una meet a lady who is actually Queen Elizabeth I. She tells them about a secret mission. The mission was to stop the Spanish from settling in Virginia. The Queen sent two brave young lords on this dangerous task. They had to go without her official support.

The Looking-Glass: A Queen's Reflection

The poem The Looking-Glass shows an older Queen Elizabeth. She is teased by the spirits of Mary, Queen of Scots and the Earl of Leicester. They say she is too scared to look in a mirror. But the Queen, remembering she is the daughter of King Henry VIII, bravely faces her aging reflection.

The Wrong Thing: A Ship and a Knight

The poem A Truthful Song talks about how old skills can still be useful today. It mentions an ancient Egyptian pyramid builder and Noah building his ark. Then, in the story "The Wrong Thing," Sir Harry Dawe shares a tale. He designed decorations for King Henry VII's ship, the Sovereign. He was even made a knight for advising the King not to use his design, which saved money.

King Henry VII and the Shipwrights: A Lesson in Honesty

The poem King Henry VII and the Shipwrights describes the King watching his shipbuilders. They start taking apart a warship for themselves. One worker stops them, admitting to some small thefts. He gets promoted, and the others are punished. The King tells him to "steal in measure," meaning to be careful even with small wrongdoings.

Marklake Witches: A New Invention

The poem The Way Through the Woods describes an old road that nature has reclaimed. Sometimes, you can still hear the ghostly sounds of past travelers there. In "Marklake Witches," a young girl who is very ill describes René Laennec's invention of the stethoscope. He created it while he was a prisoner of war in Sussex.

Ancient Times: Chalk and Knives

The poem Brookland Road tells of a man who falls in love with a mysterious, quiet girl who seems magical. The Run of the Downs is a poem about the South Downs in Sussex, naming different famous places. In "The Knife and the Naked Chalk," a neolithic shepherd trades with new metalworkers. He wants metal knives for his people to fight off dangerous wolves.

Brother Square-Toes: A Smuggler's Journey

The poem Song of the Men's Side repeats the main idea of the story before it. Philadelphia is a poem that says while people and places change, the landscape and nature remain. In "Brother Square-Toes," Pharaoh Lee, a smuggler from Sussex, travels to Philadelphia in 1793. He lives there and among the Seneca people. He even attends a meeting where George Washington says he won't fight with the French against Britain.

If—: A Guide to Being a Man

The poem If— is one of the most famous and loved poems in the English language. It offers advice on how to act to be considered a truly good person.

A Priest in Spite of Himself: Talleyrand's Help

The poem A St Helena Lullaby tells the story of Napoleon's life in poetry. "A Priest in Spite of Himself" continues Brother Square-Toes' story. He meets Talleyrand while Talleyrand is exiled in Philadelphia. Later, Talleyrand helps Brother Square-Toes get his ship back after the French Navy took it.

The Conversion of St Wilfrid: Old Faiths and New

The poem 'Poor Honest Men' is a sad song from smugglers. They complain that after all their hard work, they are seen as criminals. Eddi's Service tells of Eddi, a priest from Selsey. He holds a midnight service, but only a donkey and a bullock come, so he preaches to them. In "The Conversion of St Wilfrid," St Wilfrid tells Dan and Una how he converted Æthelwealh, the pagan king of Sussex. He did this by respecting the King's old faith in Wotan during a dangerous time.

A Doctor of Medicine: Stopping the Plague

The poem Song of the Red War-Boat describes a Viking ship surviving a storm through hard work and faith in Odin and Thor. An Astrologer's Song praises astrology and how stars are believed to influence people. In "A Doctor of Medicine," Nicholas Culpeper explains how he stopped the plague in a Sussex village. He did this by getting rats killed, believing it was for astrological reasons.

Simple Simon: Drake and the Armada

The poem 'Our Fathers of Old' lists many medicinal plants and how they were used. It also mentions that old medical knowledge was often not very effective. The Thousandth Man is a poem about how one true friend will always stand by you. In "Simple Simon," a shipbuilder from Rye tells a story about Francis Drake and the Spanish Armada.

The Tree of Justice: Harold's Fate

The poem Frankie's Trade is like a sea shanty. It tells how Francis Drake learned his sailing skills and how to fight the Spanish. The Ballad of Minepit Shaw tells of two poachers who are saved by falling into a pit. They claim a fairy hid them. In "The Tree of Justice," Sir Richard Dalyngridge explains how King Harold survived the Battle of Hastings and became a blind beggar. The book ends with A Carol, a poem about the difficulties of winter.