ICSE Class 10 Poems and Short Stories The Little Match Girl (Hans Christian Andersen)

Synopsis

This story is written by author Hans Christian Anderson. He was a Danish writer popular for his influential stories about children. However, his stories are not restricted to children alone and have themes of universal appeal that transcend age and culture. The author has described how a little girl lost her life and the scenes she witnessed before death which put a smile on her face.

The author has portrayed beautiful irony and imagery emphasising the need for compassion. He shows a picture of an unhappy childhood and what it leads to for a little helpless girl. He has briefly elaborated on the pains of the little girl who is trying hard and struggling on New Year’s Eve. An unfortunate and sad picture of childhood has been illustrated through this story.

The story opens with the author describing the weather conditions. It is an extremely cold winter on the last evening of the year. There is a little girl who is on the streets trying to sell her matchsticks. Despite the cold weather, the girl has no warm clothes on her or even slippers to wear. She left her home wearing her mother’s footwear, but since they were oversized, she lost them as she was crossing the street. So, now she walked barefeet in the brutal cold.
This story was written in 1845 during the Victorian era. Begging was illegal and child abuse was common during that time. Therefore, the class difference is clearly highlighted in this story. This little girl is the only major character in the story. She is forced and threatened to sell matchsticks by her father. She was scared because she was not able to sell any matchsticks that night. If she went home without any money, she would be beaten by her father.
Apart from the bleak cold, she was also very hungry. It was the holiday season and a festive feeling was all around when this poor little girl was wandering so that she could sell some matchsticks. Cold, hunger and grief made her look like a figure of sorrow herself.
As she moved from street to street, she saw the lights of festivities around. The candles and the aroma of delicious food was sensed by her. She did not wish to go home because her house did not have much covering but a roof. It could not protect them from the severe cold.
After some time, she huddled herself against a wall and sat down. Her hands had become numb. To relieve herself from the terrible cold, she hesitantly burnt one matchstick from the bundle she had. She held her hand over the bright light. She felt the warm bright flame as if she were sitting beside a large iron stove. She tried to warm her feet, but the flame went out.
The little match girl rubbed another match. But this time, the light fell on the wall and it became transparent. She could see through the room. She saw a table on which there was a beautiful tablecloth and food served in magnificent china. She could smell and see the roasted goose with the filling of apple and dried prunes. She could see all of this. The goose hopping down from the table with a knife and fork coming right towards her. But soon the match went out and she had nothing but a cold damp wall.
She wanted to keep her visions alive, so she rubbed another matchstick against the wall. This time she saw a huge and beautiful Christmas tree. It was large, strikingly decorated and had dazzling lights. This was larger than any other Christmas tree she had ever seen. There were bells and lights on the green branches of the Christmas tree along with beautiful pictures hanging from it. She was very happy seeing this Christmas tree, so she stretched her hand to touch it. As soon as she did so, the light went out, the flame disappeared and so did the Christmas tree.
She lit another match, and this time, she saw the lights as stars rising higher and higher in heaven. One star fell down, and so, she remembered her grandmother. She had heard from her grandmother that a falling star signifies death. When one star falls from the sky, a soul ascends to God becoming a star.
The only person who was close to the heart of the little match girl was her grandmother because she loved her dearly and was kind towards her. Her grandmother had passed away. The little girl struck another matchstick and soon began talking to the vision. She now saw her grandmother. Bright and radiant, with a mild expression, her grandmother stood before her. But just like the other visions, she did not want her grandmother to vanish when the matchstick burnt out. So, in order to keep her grandmother close to her, she struck one more matchstick and another after the one she struck. She burnt out the whole packet and pleaded with her grandmother to take her to heaven soon.
Both of them flew in the brightness and in joy to be with God. Both of them were extremely happy as they were together and in heaven where there was neither cold nor hunger nor fear. It appeared that the falling star had foreshadowed the little girl’s own death.
For when the passers-by saw the little girl the next morning, she had been frozen to death. They saw her dead but failed to notice her smiling face. Many pitied her but did not know that it was the most unusual death. A death which freed her from all worries and a death in which her own grandmother came to take her, and now they both were happy to be in each other's company. This story not only justifies the difficulties of the survival faced by the little match girl but also describes her end in the most beautiful way ever. The visions are symbolic of the things that the little girl desired for and also signified her end. They made her happy in her last moments relieving her from all worries. The visions that the little girl saw gave her pleasure in her final moments and thus led her to death but also put a smile on her face.

Short answer questions

1. How was the weather on the last evening of the year?
   Ans. New Year’s Eve, the last evening of the year, was terribly cold and gloomy as described in the story. It was getting colder and darker as the snow fell, forcing people to desert the streets and stay indoors to protect themselves from the bitter cold.
   
   
2. What happened to the little girl’s slippers?
   Ans. The poor little girl was out on the streets to sell matches so that she could make some money to take home. She did not have anything to cover her head in the cold. She had worn her mother’s slippers as she stepped out of her house. They were oversized for her. She lost one as she ran across the street to escape from the two carriages that were being drawn terribly fast. The other one was taken away by a boy.
   
   
3. What happened when the little girl lit her first matchstick?
   Ans. When the little girl lit a match, it spluttered and burnt. It had a warm bright flame like a tiny candle when she held her hand over it. However, it seemed to be very strange as it seemed to the little girl that she was sitting in front of a great iron stove with polished brass knobs and brass ornaments. She felt wonderful as the fire burnt beautifully and gave lovely warmth. She tried to warm her legs with it, but as she did, the light extinguished.
   
   
4. What did the little girl’s grandmother say about the falling star?
   Ans. The girl’s grandmother had told her that a soul goes up to God whenever a star falls. The falling star signifies death. The girl had seen a falling star in one of her visions. So, she thought someone must have died somewhere.
   
   
5. Whose death does the falling star signify?
   Ans. Superstitious as it might appear in the story, the falling star signifies death. Strangely, the little girl dies in the end. The soul of her grandmother comes to take the little girl with her to heaven. Hence, the falling star signifies the death of the little match girl.
   
   
6. Why was the last vision important for the little girl?
   Ans. The little girl was very attached to her grandmother as she was very kind and loving towards her. The last vision was important because she saw her grandmother in it. Nobody loved her more than her grandmother. Her grandmother was now dead, and therefore, she became extremely happy on seeing her.
   
   
7. Explain her relationship with her grandmother.
   Ans. The little match girl was out on the streets selling matchsticks on a very cold last evening of the year. She was forced to do so by her father. This indicates that she had a tough relationship with her father. However, she had a very kind and loving relationship with her grandmother. Her grandmother was the only person who was gentle and affectionate towards her. She was dead, but when the little girl saw her grandmother in her last vision, she pleaded with her grandmother to take her along.
   
   
8. How does the extract bring out the hope for a better life after death?
   Ans. This extract displays the satisfaction of the little girl through her ‘rosy cheeks’ and ‘smiling mouth’. The New Year dawning on the huddled figure of the rosy girl symbolises a new beginning, a beginning of peace and happiness. The yearning of the little girl to be taken by her grandmother suggests that there is indeed a better life after death.

Long answer questions

1. How appropriate is the title of the story?
   Ans. The appropriateness of the title of any story is judged by how well it reflects the content of the story. The title ‘The Little Match Girl’ is quite an apt title as it revolves around the little girl who sells matches. The author has not given any name to the little girl and she is referred to in the entire story as a ‘poor little girl’ or ‘little match girl’. This indicates that she was just one of the many poor children belonging to the lower section of society during the Victorian era who had to face hardships because of poverty. She was also subjected to beating and abuse at home. The little girl was sent out by her father to sell matches on a chilly winter evening. She neither had warm clothes nor shoes to protect herself from the bleak and bitter cold. She was afraid to go home because she did not sell any matchsticks and thus did not have any money.
   Eventually, she died of cold, hunger and abuse. She was found dead the next morning by the passers-by.
   The word ‘match’ in the title not only refers to the act of selling matches by the little girl to earn money but also is symbolic of warmth and hope. The little girl lights up matches to keep herself warm, and in this way, she witnessed some of the most pleasant visuals before she passed away.
   
   
2. Why did the little match girl not go home?
   Ans. The little girl was out in the cold trying to sell matches. She was a victim of child labour and physically abused at the hands of her father, who did not have any concern for her welfare and used to ill-treat her. She did not dare go home because she had neither sold any matches nor earned a single penny. Her father would surely beat her; moreover, it was very cold at home for they had nothing but a roof over them, and the wind whistled through that even as the largest cracks were stuffed with straw and rags. It would not keep her warm and protected; hence, she did not go home but huddled between two walls and sat there.
   
   
3. With reference to the story, bring out the theme of class differentiation.
   Ans. The story portrays a realistic and a crude view of society in the Victorian era. During this era, the middle class emerged and took importance in the workplace. The people who remained in the lower section of society were unemployed and subjected to poverty. The author has reflected this class differentiation through the character of the little girl. The little girl was poorly dressed and lived in the house having only the roof through which the wind whistled and large cracks were stuffed with straw and rags. This indicates that she belonged to the lower section of society. Since they were poor, the girl was sent on a cold night to sell matches. It can be inferred that her father was unemployed and that he abused his daughter by beating her and being harsh on her out of frustration and dejection.
   In this era, children were made to sell matches as a front for actual begging. So, child abuse was common in this period. The class differentiation is also reflected in the story through the comforting visions the little girl had of a warm iron stove, sumptuous feast, a twinkling Christmas tree and her late grandmother’s loving face. The first two visions clearly show the gap between the rich and the poor and the things the little girl could only dream of. However, the last vision was a desire of being loved and being taken care of. Finally, the poor little match girl dies due to cold and starvation.
   
   
4. Explain the symbolism used in the story.
   Ans. Symbols are essentially words which communicate more than their literal meaning. The author has used simple language apt for a fairy tale, yet there are words and phrases which convey a deeper meaning. These include
   
   • Iron stove: When the little girl in the story lit her first matchstick, she could feel the warmth and safety which she longed for. She felt like sitting beside an iron stove. This is also symbolic of feelings of being loved which she got from her grandmother only.
   • Christmas tree: The Christmas tree that the little girl saw in her vision was huge, brightly lit and beautifully decorated. It was something that could be found only in a wealthy home. This is a sign of undying life, rebirth and stamina needed to endure the winter months. The little girl in the story tried to survive in the extremely cold winter night by lighting matches.
   • Falling star: This has been referred to in the story by the little girl as a symbol of a soul ascending to God. She had heard from her grandmother that whenever a star falls, a soul climbs up to God from the Earth. This falling star was symbolic of the death of the little match girl herself.
   • Matches: The matches constitute an important role in the story. They not only were responsible for helping the little girl earn money but also were a symbol of warmth and hope. The matches have given the little girl warmth on the cold winter night as well as made her feel the warmth of love which she was longing for.
   • Cold: The cold on New Year's Eve is symbolic of hardship, desperation and hopelessness. The little girl in the story was out on the street on a terribly cold winter night. She did not have enough warm clothes or shoes to protect herself from the cold. Her hands and feet became numb with cold, and ultimately, she froze to death because of being exposed to such terrible weather conditions. It could also symbolise the cold treatment towards the poor.
     
     
5. Describe the visions seen by the little girl.
   OR
   Why did the little girl light the whole bundle of matches at the end?
   Ans. The little girl did not want to go home as she had earned no money and also her house was incapable of keeping her warm in such cold weather. She scratched the first match and felt as if she was sitting beside an iron stove. Her hands felt the warmth of it.
   The little girl saw the following visions as she sat between two walls and lit more matchsticks.
   First Vision: When she struck another match, it burnt clearly, and when the light fell upon the wall, the bricks became transparent like gauze. She could see right into the room, where a shining white cloth was spread on the table. It was covered with beautiful chinaware, and in the centre of it stood a roasted goose stuffed with prunes and apples which seemed to be steaming deliciously. To her surprise, the goose seemed to hop down from the dish and waddle across the floor with a carving knife and fork in its back. It waddled straight up to the poor child.
   Second Vision: When the little match girl struck another matchstick, she was sitting under the most beautiful Christmas tree. The girl had never seen such a huge and beautiful Christmas tree. Thereafter, the girl saw a falling star and her mind was immediately taken to the image of her grandmother.
   Third Vision: The final vision was the most important and the most beautiful one. She saw the image of her grandmother. She wanted to hold onto this final vision, and therefore, she kept burning the matches.
   The girl’s dreams and happy moments have been shared through these visions. The visions gave her immense joy and put a smile on her face in the last moments of her life.
   
   
6. Explain the character sketch of the little girl.
   Ans. The little girl was a ‘picture of misery’ in the cold and gloom. She walked bareheaded and barefoot through the streets. Her naked feet had become red and blue with the cold. She didn’t have enough warm clothes and shoes to protect herself. She was shivering and hungry. In her old apron, she carried many matches which nobody had bought from her nor had anybody given her a single penny all day. Moreover, the description of her dilapidated house shows that she belonged to a poor household.
   She was scared of her father beating her which reveals that she did not have a loving relationship with her father. She loved her grandmother as she was the only one who was kind and affectionate towards her. Her happy moments are conveyed through the visions she saw. They also reveal that she gained pleasure in the last moments of her life. She was free from the difficulties of her life as she embraced death.
   
   
7. Was the girl happy in the New Year?
   Ans. The basic needs of the girl were food, clothing, a warm shelter, love and affection which her life was devoid of. She visualises the iron stove for warmth in the cold winter. Her vision of the roasted goose shows how hungry she was. Her vision of the Christmas tree shows how she yearned for celebration and happiness in her life, and finally, her vision of her grandmother shows she craved for love and affection.
   Yes, it is most likely that the girl was happy in the New Year. She had been freed from her poverty, isolation and a life of difficulty. Unknown to all, the girl had seen the most beautiful visions before dying. This perhaps explains why she had a smiling face even in death. Most importantly, the girl had now been united with her grandmother. Symbolically, the soul of the grandmother herself descended to take the little girl along with her to heaven.
   
   
8. Were the images that the girl saw real? What were they actually?
   Ans. The images seen by the girl were not real but imaginary. They were fragments from the girl’s hidden desires. Living a life of complete deprivation, the girl observed the goodness that life offered. Marching along the streets to sell the matchsticks, she could not escape the fun and frolic which marked New Year's Eve. She could smell the delicious food, sense the happiness of the people, and the images of a fine table with its magnificent spread and delicious food were all dreams which came true in the girl’s imagination. Love was another missing aspect of her life. With her grandmother now dead, there was no one who cared for her. She was scared of her father’s beating and thus chose to stay back on the streets. This is why along with the other images that she saw, she also envisioned her grandmother as the girl wished to be united with her.
   
   
9. What is the role of people in the story? What does it signify?
   Ans. The story revolves around a cold and a gloomy place where it is quite impossible for people to spot the girl. So, they cannot be blamed for her pitiable condition. It seems that the girl has been trying to sell matchsticks since morning in a marketplace crowded with people who are preparing to ring in the New Year. People must have seen her, but no one came forward to help or to take notice of her condition. Just like the cold weather, it is a sheer demonstration of apathy on the part of civilised human beings towards a helpless poor girl. The people are so absorbed in their condition that the girl could not draw the attention of any of them. Had any of the people helped her, she could have been saved. People noticed and guessed that she had been trying to warm herself, but nobody bothered to help the little girl who had to spend the night in a terrible cold that claimed her life. People do not seem to notice her rosy cheeks and smiling lips which are looking alive even after she has passed away. Thus, we conclude that the people in the story are ignorant and apathetic. If any of the people bothered to buy matchsticks from her so that she could be helped, she would have returned home and survived. People spend a lot of money on themselves and the family by celebrating the New Year, but not a single person was bothered about the bareheaded little girl who was walking barefoot on the streets of the marketplace.
   
   
10. Faith and hope reside in the heart of the little girl. Elaborate on this sentence.
    Ans. Hope is an expectation of a positive outcome related to some circumstances in one’s life. Faith is trust in God that we will receive the things we hope for.
    In the story ‘The Little Match Girl’, the girl had the hope that she would pull through difficulties, and therefore, she continued to keep herself warm by lighting the matches. She had faith in God that he would help her. When she scratched a match and saw her grandmother, she did not want to lose her, and so, she kept lighting more matchsticks. She pleaded with her grandmother to take her to heaven with her where she would be neither hungry nor cold nor would there be any abuse. Cold, hunger and the apathy of people around her were capable of making her imagine certain things which she must have longed for as well as things which made her feel better including an iron stove, a huge Christmas tree and a table laden with delicious food. The girl also imagines her deceased grandmother's face which gives her faith and hope in the afterlife.