“The Swan Maiden.” Scandinavian folk & fairy tales: tales from Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, edited by Claire Booss, New York: Avenel Books, 1984, pp. 248-250.
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Tale Summary
One day, a young hunter saw three swans fly by and settle down near him. He was astonished to find that the three swans removed their feathery attire, and revealed themselves to be dazzlingly beautiful maidens. He watched as they bathed, and then donned their feathery garb again, to become swans once more and fly away. The youngest and fairest caught the attention of the hunter, and he could think of nothing else. His mother noticed that something was wrong, and he related to her what he had seen, and that he was madly in love. She told him to go at sunset the next Thursday to where he had seen her last, and that he should grab her feathers as she bathed. He followed his mother’s instructions, and soon thereafter two of the swans flew away, but the third was left searching for her clothes. She discovered the young man, and fell to her knees, and prayed that he would return her swan attire. He refused and carried her home, and the two were married, and lived lovingly together. One Thursday seven years later, the hunter related the story of how he had sought and won his swan wife, and brought forth the feathers of her former days. As soon as she touched the feathers, she transformed once more into a swan and took flight. He longed for her and died a year later.
Fairy Tale Title
The Swan Maiden
Fairy Tale Author(s)/Editor(s)
Claire Booss
Fairy Tale Illustrator(s)
Common Tale Type
Tale Classification
Page Range of Tale
pp. 248-250
Full Citation of Tale
“The Swan Maiden.” Scandinavian folk & fairy tales: tales from Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, edited by Claire Booss, New York: Avenel Books, 1984, pp. 248-250.
Original Source of the Tale
Tale Notes
Research and Curation
Kaeli Waggener, 2023
Book Title
Scandinavian folk & fairy tales: tales from Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Iceland
Book Author/Editor(s)
Claire Booss
Illustrator(s)
Publisher
Avenel Books
Date Published
1984
Decade Published
1980-1989
Publisher City
New York
Publisher Country
United States
Language
English
Rights
Copyright not evaluated
Digital Copy
Book Notes
A collection of folk literature from five countries, with illustrations by native artists.