The Fir Tree
전나무
Hans Christian Andersen (1805–1875)
The Story
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In the forest stood a pretty little fir tree, with sun, fresh air, and taller trees all around.But the little tree was never happy. It wanted only one thing: to be tall."Enjoy being young," said the sunbeams. "Enjoy growing." But the fir tree did not listen.
Each winter, men came and cut down the biggest trees and carried them away."Where do they go?" the fir tree asked the sparrows."We have seen them," they said. "They stand in warm rooms, hung with gold apples, sweets, and a hundred candles."
"How wonderful," thought the fir tree. "I wish it were my turn."The next Christmas, the fir tree was the first to be cut down.It felt a sharp pain as the axe went in, and it was sorry to leave its home.
But soon it stood in a beautiful room, covered with candles, apples, and paper stars."Tonight I will shine!" the tree thought, trembling with joy.The candles were lit, the children rushed in, and they pulled every present from its branches.
Then everyone left, and no one looked at the tree again.In the morning the servants dragged it up to a dark, cold attic and forgot it there all winter.
Only the mice came to visit, and the tree told them about the green forest it had once thought too small."I was happy there," it said, "and I never knew it."In spring it was carried out to the garden, its needles yellow now; a child lifted the gold star gently from its top branch to keep, and the tree wished it had been glad of each day while it lasted.
Comprehension Check
1. What did the little fir tree want more than anything?
2. What did the sparrows say happened to the trees that were cut down?
3. What did the fir tree finally understand in the cold attic?
Vocabulary
noun
fir
전나무
In the forest stood a pretty little fir tree.
숲속에 예쁜 작은 전나무가 서 있었어요.
Your Summary
In 1–2 sentences, describe what the fir tree wished for, and what it understood too late in the cold attic.
Source: Adapted from Hans Christian Andersen's tale "The Fir Tree" ("Grantræet," first published 1844; long in the public domain, Project Gutenberg #1597). This simplified retelling and its Korean translation are original text written for SeoJae Story; the bleak final scene is gently softened.