Mrs. A. W. Hall

“Helga.” Icelandic Fairy Tales, Mrs. A. W. Hall, London: Frederick Warne and Company, 1897, pp. 35-45.

Anonymous — Thu, 06 Oct 2022 18:40:39 +0000

“Helga.” Icelandic Fairy Tales, Mrs. A. W. Hall, London: Frederick Warne and Company, 1897, pp. 35-45. Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 10/06/2022 - 12:40

Tale Summary

An old man has three daughters. The eldest two are vain, and selfish, and do not help with the housework, the youngest (Helga) is the most beautiful and selfless and serves the whole family. When their fire goes out one night, the first two sisters are sent in succession to a nearby cave to get some more fire. They both find a cauldron of stew and unbaked cakes and only make food for themselves. A black dog visits both of them, which they mistreat, and then bites each of the older sisters. Having failed to bring back the fire twice, the family sends Helga, who bakes the cakes and stew and waits for permission to eat. She encounters a three-headed giant with a black dog who bids her share his meal since she prepared it nicely. There are rumbles and earthquakes after their meal and the giant turns into a prince who gives Helga jewels and a nice dress and promises to return to marry her for breaking his curse. Helga goes back to her family and is still mistreated there. A while later the prince returns and asks to see the old man’s daughters. He claims that he has only two which are all bandaged up from getting bitten by the dog. Finally, the prince gets him to reveal Helga who comes away with him to be married.

Fairy Tale Title

Helga

Fairy Tale Author(s)/Editor(s)

Mrs. A. W. Hall

Fairy Tale Illustrator(s)

E. A. Mason

Common Tale Type

Tale Classification

Page Range of Tale

pp. 35-45

Full Citation of Tale

“Helga.” Icelandic Fairy Tales, Mrs. A. W. Hall, London: Frederick Warne and Company, 1897, pp. 35-45.

Original Source of the Tale

Tale Notes

This is a type of Cinderella tale, but nothing about it is particularly Icelandic. The only Icelandic elements it contains are a giant and mentions of the sea.

Research and Curation

Emily Ray, 2022

Book Title

Icelandic Fairy Tales

Book Author/Editor(s)

Mrs. A. W. Hall

Illustrator(s)

E. A. Mason

Publisher

Frederick Warne and Company

Date Published

1897

Decade Published

1890-1899

Publisher City

London

Publisher Country

United Kingdom

Language

English

Rights

Public Domain

Digital Copy

Available at the Internet Archive

Book Notes

Traditional

White

“The Legend of the King’s Three Sons.” Icelandic Fairy Tales, Mrs. A. W. Hall, London: Frederick Warne and Company, 1897, pp. 11-34.

Anonymous — Thu, 06 Oct 2022 17:55:20 +0000

“The Legend of the King’s Three Sons.” Icelandic Fairy Tales, Mrs. A. W. Hall, London: Frederick Warne and Company, 1897, pp. 11-34. Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 10/06/2022 - 11:55

Mrs. A. W. Hall

Tale Summary

A king adopts a beautiful girl for his daughter. When she grows up, all three of his sons want her hand in marriage. He sets out a test to determine who will wed the girl, Isolde. Whoever brings back the most unusual thing from foreign lands will win the honor. The eldest brother brings a telescope that can be used to see anything in the world. The middle brother brings a shield that will defend against anything and also can fly and carry people on it. The youngest brother brings an apple that can cure all sickness. When the brothers reconvene, Isolde is sick. Through their joint efforts, they cure the princess and the king can’t decide which to wed Isolde. The middle brother is determined the winner of an archery contest and wins Isolde. The youngest goes to another kingdom and marries the queen. During his absence, the queen (his mother) dies and the king is seduced by another woman, who sets a test for the youngest brother. He must find a tent that can hold 800 people, water that can cure all illnesses, and a man like no other on earth. The youngest brother’s wife owns the tent, she helps him get the water, and her half-brother is a monstrous man named Randver who agrees to attend the meeting of the queen and youngest brother. At this meeting, Randver kills the stepmother queen who turns into an evil giantess, and the king is restored to health and sense by the magic water.

Fairy Tale Title

The Legend of the King’s Three Sons

Fairy Tale Author(s)/Editor(s)

Mrs. A. W. Hall

Fairy Tale Illustrator(s)

E. A. Mason

Common Tale Type

Tale Classification

Page Range of Tale

pp. 11-34

Full Citation of Tale

“The Legend of the King’s Three Sons.” Icelandic Fairy Tales, Mrs. A. W. Hall, London: Frederick Warne and Company, 1897, pp. 11-34.

Original Source of the Tale

Tale Notes

Research and Curation

Anonymous

Book Title

Icelandic Fairy Tales

Book Author/Editor(s)

Mrs. A. W. Hall

Illustrator(s)

E. A. Mason

Publisher

Frederick Warne and Company

Date Published

1897

Decade Published

1890-1899

Publisher City

London

Publisher Country

United Kingdom

Language

English

Rights

Public Domain

Digital Copy

Available at the Internet Archive

Book Notes

Traditional

White

“Thorstein.” Icelandic Fairy Tales, Mrs. A. W. Hall, London: Frederick Warne and Company, 1897, pp. 46-72.

Anonymous — Wed, 05 Oct 2022 19:49:36 +0000

“Thorstein.” Icelandic Fairy Tales, Mrs. A. W. Hall, London: Frederick Warne and Company, 1897, pp. 46-72. Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 10/05/2022 - 13:49

Mrs. A. W. Hall

Tale Summary

Thorstein is a prince and is too kind. After his parents die he spends the entire kingdom’s budget on charity for people who don’t deserve it and everybody is miserable. He barters his kingdom away and leaves. On his journey, he encounters a farmer who is digging up the grave of a servant who was in debt to him. Thorstein gives the farmer the rest of his money to keep the grave from being disturbed. He then travels to a giant’s house and the elder giant takes Thorstein under his protection. Thorstein agrees to become the giant’s servant for a year. During this time, he is allowed inside every room in the house except one, and he is very curious about the secret room. He finally makes a key for the room and finds out that there is a young girl named Thekla imprisoned in the room. He makes a deal with the giants to free her at the end of his service, and kills the giants when they attack him on his way out. Thorstein and the maiden raid the giant’s house for treasure and catch a ride with a ship captain who works for Thekla’s father. During the journey, the captain gets jealous of Thorstein and puts him overboard on a small boat. Thorstein is saved by the ghost that was in debt to the farmer and whose grave Thorstein saved. Thorstein offers to look after Thekla’s father’s horses and the whole story comes out. Thorstein and Thekla marry and become very rich and beloved by their people.

Fairy Tale Title

Thornstein

Fairy Tale Author(s)/Editor(s)

Mrs. A. W. Hall

Fairy Tale Illustrator(s)

E. A. Mason

Common Tale Type

Tale Classification

Page Range of Tale

pp. 46-72

Full Citation of Tale

“Thorstein.” Icelandic Fairy Tales, Mrs. A. W. Hall, London: Frederick Warne and Company, 1897, pp. 46-72.

Original Source of the Tale

Tale Notes

Research and Curation

Emily Ray, 2021

Book Title

Icelandic Fairy Tales

Book Author/Editor(s)

Mrs. A. W. Hall

Illustrator(s)

E. A. Mason

Publisher

Frederick Warne and Company

Date Published

1897

Decade Published

1890-1899

Publisher City

London

Publisher Country

United Kingdom

Language

English

Rights

Public Domain

Digital Copy

Available at the Internet Archive

Book Notes

Traditional

White