The Buried Moon
by Unknown · from More English Fairy Tales
Adapted Version
The big, wet bog was a scary place. Dark creatures lived there. They came out when it was dark. They made bad sounds. The kind Moon shone her light. Her light made the bog bright. All felt safe then. People were happy. The dark creatures went away. The Moon was very good.
The Moon heard about the dark creatures. She felt sad for the people. The Moon was very kind. She wanted to help them. "I will go to the bog," she said. She put on a dark cloak. The cloak hid her bright light. She wanted to see the dark things.
The Moon walked in the bog. She looked for the dark creatures. Her foot slipped in the water. She grabbed a big, twisted branch. The branch held her tight. It wrapped around her hands. The Moon was stuck. She could not move.
A Lost Man was in the bog. He was very lost. He was very scared. He saw a little light. The light came from the Moon. He walked to the light. He needed help. He needed to be safe.
The Moon tried hard to get free. She pulled and twisted. Her dark cloak fell off. Her bright light shone out. The dark creatures ran away fast. They did not like the light. The Lost Man saw the path. He walked to a safe place. He was safe now.
The Lost Man went away. The Moon felt tired. Her dark cloak fell back. Her light went away now. The dark creatures came back. They were very happy. They pushed a very big stone. They put it over the Moon. The Moon was hidden there. They did not want her light.
Days passed by. The Moon did not come back. It was always dark now. The people were sad. They were very scared. The dark creatures were all around. They made bad sounds. People could not walk well. They missed the Moon's light.
The people went to the Wise Woman. She was old and smart. They asked her for help. "Where is the Moon?" they asked. She looked in her pot. She looked in her book. "I cannot see the Moon," she said. "Tell me if you think back."
The Lost Man was there. He heard the people talk. He thought back to the little light. The light saved him before. "I know where the Moon is!" he said. He told all his story. He told them about the light. This was a very good clue.
They went to the Wise Woman again. They told her the story. She listened very well. "Go to the bog," she said. "Hold a smooth stone. Hold a special stick. Be very quiet. Do not talk. Look for a big stone. Look for a tall branch. Look for a little light."
The people went to the bog. They held their stones. They held their sticks. They were very quiet. They looked for the clues. They found the big stone. They saw the tall branch. A little light flickered there. It was the Moon's light. The Moon was hidden under the stone.
The people stood very still. They thought happy thoughts. They wished for the Moon. Then they pushed the big stone. It was very heavy. They pushed it away. The Moon was free! She was not hidden now.
The Moon's light shone very bright. The people closed their eyes. The light was so strong. The Moon went back to the sky. Now it was light again. All felt safe. The dark creatures ran away. They hid in the dark. The bog was safe.
Work as one. Light always comes back.
Original Story
The Buried Moon
Long ago, in my grandmother's time, the Carland was all in bogs, great pools of black water, and creeping trickles of green water, and squishy mools which squirted when you stepped on them.
Well, granny used to say how long before her time the Moon herself was once dead and buried in the marshes, and as she used to tell me, I'll tell you all about it.
The Moon up yonder shone and shone, just as she does now, and when she shone she lighted up the bog-pools, so that one could walk about almost as safe as in the day.
But when she didn't shine, out came the Things that dwelt in the darkness and went about seeking to do evil and harm; Bogles and Crawling Horrors, all came out when the Moon didn't shine.
Well, the Moon heard of this, and being kind and good—as she surely is, shining for us in the night instead of taking her natural rest—she was main troubled. "I'll see for myself, I will," said she, "maybe it's not so bad as folks make out."
Sure enough, at the month's end down she stept, wrapped up in a black cloak, and a black hood over her yellow shining hair. Straight she went to the bog edge and looked about her. Water here and water there; waving tussocks and trembling mools, and great black snags all twisted and bent. Before her all was dark—dark but for the glimmer of the stars in the pools, and the light that came from her own white feet, stealing out of her black cloak.
The Moon drew her cloak faster about and trembled, but she wouldn't go back without seeing all there was to be seen; so on she went, stepping as light as the wind in summer from tuft to tuft between the greedy gurgling water holes. Just as she came near a big black pool her foot slipped and she was nigh tumbling in. She grabbed with both hands at a snag near by to steady herself with, but as she touched it, it twined itself round her wrists, like a pair of handcuffs, and gript her so that she couldn't move. She pulled and twisted and fought, but it was no good. She was fast, and must stay fast.
Presently as she stood trembling in the dark, wondering if help would come, she heard something calling in the distance, calling, calling, and then dying away with a sob, till the marshes were full of this pitiful crying sound; then she heard steps floundering along, squishing in the mud and slipping on the tufts, and through the darkness she saw a white face with great feared eyes.
'T was a man strayed in the bogs. Mazed with fear he struggled on toward the flickering light that looked like help and safety. And when the poor Moon saw that he was coming nigher and nigher to the deep hole, further and further from the path, she was so mad and so sorry that she struggled and fought and pulled harder than ever. And though she couldn't get loose, she twisted and turned, till her black hood fell back off her shining yellow hair, and the beautiful light that came from it drove away the darkness.
Oh, but the man cried with joy to see the light again. And at once all evil things fled back into the dark corners, for they cannot abide the light. So he could see where he was, and where the path was, and how he could get out of the marsh. And he was in such haste to get away from the Quicks, and Bogles, and Things that dwelt there, that he scarce looked at the brave light that came from the beautiful shining yellow hair, streaming out over the black cloak and falling to the water at his feet. And the Moon herself was so taken up with saving him, and with rejoicing that he was back on the right path, that she clean forgot that she needed help herself, and that she was held fast by the Black Snag.
So off he went; spent and gasping, and stumbling and sobbing with joy, flying for his life out of the terrible bogs. Then it came over the Moon, she would main like to go with him. So she pulled and fought as if she were mad, till she fell on her knees, spent with tugging, at the foot of the snag. And as she lay there, gasping for breath, the black hood fell forward over her head. So out went the blessed light and back came the darkness, with all its Evil Things, with a screech and a howl. They came crowding round her, mocking and snatching and beating; shrieking with rage and spite, and swearing and snarling, for they knew her for their old enemy, that drove them back into the corners, and kept them from working their wicked wills.
"Drat thee!" yelled the witch-bodies, "thou 'st spoiled our spells this year agone!"
"And us thou sent'st to brood in the corners!" howled the Bogles.
And all the Things joined in with a great "Ho, ho!" till the very tussocks shook and the water gurgled. And they began again.
"We'll poison her—poison her!" shrieked the witches.
And "Ho, ho!" howled the Things again.
"We'll smother her—smother her!" whispered the Crawling Horrors, and twined themselves round her knees.
And "Ho, ho!" mocked the rest of them.
And again they all shouted with spite and ill-will. And the poor Moon crouched down, and wished she was dead and done with.
And they fought and squabbled what they should do with her, till a pale grey light began to come in the sky; and it drew nigh the dawning. And when they saw that, they were feared lest they shouldn't have time to work their will; and they caught hold of her, with horrid bony fingers, and laid her deep in the water at the foot of the snag. And the Bogles fetched a strange big stone and rolled it on top of her, to keep her from rising. And they told two of the Will-o-the-wykes to take turns in watching on the black snag, to see that she lay safe and still, and couldn't get out to spoil their sport.
And there lay the poor Moon, dead and buried in the bog, till some one would set her loose; and who'd know where to look for her.
Well, the days passed, and 't was the time for the new moon's coming, and the folk put pennies in their pockets and straws in their caps so as to be ready for her, and looked about, for the Moon was a good friend to the marsh folk, and they were main glad when the dark time was gone, and the paths were safe again, and the Evil Things were driven back by the blessed Light into the darkness and the waterholes.
But days and days passed, and the new Moon never came, and the nights were aye dark, and the Evil Things were worse than ever. And still the days went on, and the new Moon never came. Naturally the poor folk were strangely feared and mazed, and a lot of them went to the Wise Woman who dwelt in the old mill, and asked if so be she could find out where the Moon was gone.
"Well," said she, after looking in the brewpot, and in the mirror, and in the Book, "it be main queer, but I can't rightly tell ye what's happened to her. If ye hear of aught, come and tell me."
So they went their ways; and as days went by, and never a Moon came, naturally they talked—my word! I reckon they did talk! their tongues wagged at home, and at the inn, and in the garth. But so came one day, as they sat on the great settle in the Inn, a man from the far end of the bog lands was smoking and listening, when all at once he sat up and slapped his knee. "My faicks!" says he, "I'd clean forgot, but I reckon I kens where the Moon be!" and he told them of how he was lost in the bogs, and how, when he was nigh dead with fright, the light shone out, and he found the path and got home safe.
So off they all went to the Wise Woman, and told her about it, and she looked long in the pot and the Book again, and then she nodded her head.
"It's dark still, childer, dark!" says she, "and I can't rightly see, but do as I tell ye, and ye 'll find out for yourselves. Go all of ye, just afore the night gathers, put a stone in your mouth, and take a hazel-twig in your hands, and say never a word till you're safe home again. Then walk on and fear not, far into the midst of the marsh, till ye find a coffin, a candle, and a cross. Then ye'll not be far from your Moon; look, and m'appen ye 'll find her."
So came the next night in the darklings, out they went all together, every man with a stone in his mouth, and a hazel-twig in his hand, and feeling, thou may'st reckon, main feared and creepy. And they stumbled and stottered along the paths into the midst of the bogs; they saw nought, though they heard sighings and flutterings in their ears, and felt cold wet fingers touching them; but all at once, looking around for the coffin, the candle, and the cross, while they came nigh to the pool beside the great snag, where the Moon lay buried. And all at once they stopped, quaking and mazed and skeery, for there was the great stone, half in, half out of the water, for all the world like a strange big coffin; and at the head was the black snag, stretching out its two arms in a dark gruesome cross, and on it a tiddy light flickered, like a dying candle. And they all knelt down in the mud, and said, "Our Lord, first forward, because of the cross, and then backward, to keep off the Bogles; but without speaking out, for they knew that the Evil Things would catch them, if they didn't do as the Wise Woman told them."
Then they went nigher, and took hold of the big stone, and shoved it up, and afterwards they said that for one tiddy minute they saw a strange and beautiful face looking up at them glad-like out of the black water; but the Light came so quick and so white and shining, that they stept back mazed with it, and the very next minute, when they could see again, there was the full Moon in the sky, bright and beautiful and kind as ever, shining and smiling down at them, and making the bogs and the paths as clear as day, and stealing into the very corners, as though she'd have driven the darkness and the Bogles clean away if she could.
Story DNA
Moral
Even the most powerful forces of good can be overcome by evil if they act alone, and it takes collective courage and wisdom to restore balance.
Plot Summary
The benevolent Moon descends to a dangerous bog to investigate the evil creatures that thrive in darkness. She becomes trapped by a snag while saving a lost man, and is subsequently overwhelmed, attacked, and buried by the malevolent bog creatures, plunging the land into perpetual night. The terrified villagers seek help from a Wise Woman, and after the saved man recounts his experience, she provides cryptic instructions to find the Moon. Following her guidance, the villagers locate the buried Moon and free her, restoring light and safety to the world.
Themes
Emotional Arc
fear to hope to triumph
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Reflects a pre-industrial rural society's reliance on natural light and fear of the unknown in wild, untamed landscapes like bogs, which were genuinely dangerous.
Plot Beats (13)
- The Carland bog is a dangerous place where evil 'Things' emerge in darkness, but the Moon's light provides safety.
- The benevolent Moon decides to investigate the bog's darkness herself, descending wrapped in a black cloak.
- While exploring, the Moon slips and is trapped by a black snag.
- A lost man, terrified and disoriented, stumbles towards the Moon's hidden light.
- The Moon struggles, revealing her light, which drives away the evil creatures and guides the man to safety.
- After the man leaves, the Moon's hood falls back, extinguishing her light, and the evil creatures return to torment and bury her under a stone in the bog.
- Days pass, and the Moon's absence causes perpetual darkness, fear, and increased activity of evil creatures.
- The villagers consult the Wise Woman, who initially cannot find the Moon but asks to be informed of any clues.
- The man who was saved by the Moon's light remembers his experience and tells the villagers.
- The villagers report this to the Wise Woman, who then gives them specific instructions to find the Moon: go to the bog with a stone in their mouth and a hazel twig, speak no word, and look for a 'coffin, candle, and cross'.
- The villagers follow the instructions, finding the great stone (coffin), the black snag (cross), and a flickering light (candle) at the site where the Moon was buried.
- They kneel, say prayers silently, then roll away the stone, freeing the Moon.
- The Moon's light bursts forth, blinding the villagers momentarily, and she returns to the sky, restoring light and safety to the Carland.
Characters
The Moon
Ethereal and radiant, she appears as a woman of light. Her form is graceful and slender, with an inherent luminosity that emanates from her being. When disguised, her white feet glow faintly beneath her cloak.
Attire: Initially, she wears a 'black cloak' and a 'black hood' to disguise her natural radiance. When her hood falls back, her shining hair becomes visible, acting as a source of light. Her true form is one of pure light.
Wants: To ensure the safety of the marsh folk by providing light and driving away evil, even at personal risk.
Flaw: Her immense empathy and focus on others' safety can make her forget her own vulnerability. She is physically vulnerable to the 'Things' of the marsh when her light is obscured.
She descends to investigate evil, is captured and buried, but is eventually rescued by the marsh folk, returning to her place in the sky, brighter and more appreciated than ever.
Kind, good, troubled by evil, brave, determined, self-sacrificing, forgetful of her own plight when helping others, easily disheartened when overwhelmed.
The Man from the Far End of the Bog Lands
A man who appears 'mazed with fear' and 'spent and gasping' after his ordeal in the bogs. His face is described as 'white' with 'great feared eyes,' suggesting a gaunt and terrified appearance.
Attire: Not explicitly described, but would be typical, sturdy clothing of a marsh-dweller or traveler from the region, likely mud-stained and torn after his experience.
Wants: To escape the terrifying bogs and the evil creatures within them, to find safety.
Flaw: Overwhelmed by fear, causing him to be disoriented and forgetful of others' needs.
Gets lost in the bogs, is saved by the Moon's light, escapes, and later provides the crucial clue for the Wise Woman and the marsh folk to find the Moon.
Fearful, desperate, grateful, forgetful (of the Moon's plight), practical (focused on escape).
The Wise Woman
An elderly woman, likely with the weathered features of someone who lives close to nature and uses ancient wisdom. Her presence is authoritative and calm.
Attire: Likely practical, rustic clothing suitable for someone living in an old mill, perhaps made of homespun wool or linen in muted, earthy tones. She might wear a simple shawl or apron.
Wants: To use her wisdom and knowledge to help the distressed marsh folk and solve the mystery of the missing Moon.
Flaw: Her powers are limited by the darkness; she cannot 'rightly see' what has happened to the Moon until given a key piece of information.
Initially unable to help, she gains clarity with new information and provides the crucial instructions for the marsh folk to rescue the Moon.
Wise, perceptive (though initially unable to see the Moon's plight), calm, authoritative, helpful, traditional (uses brewpot, mirror, and book).
The Black Snag
A 'great black snag all twisted and bent,' described as having 'two arms' that stretch out. It is large enough to be mistaken for a cross when viewed from a distance.
Wants: To hold the Moon captive, preventing her light from shining and allowing the 'Evil Things' to roam freely.
Flaw: Can be moved by collective human effort.
It traps the Moon, serves as her prison, and is eventually overcome by the marsh folk.
Malevolent, trapping, unyielding. It acts as a tool for the 'Evil Things' to imprison the Moon.
The Bogles and Crawling Horrors (Evil Things)
Vague and terrifying, they are 'Things that dwelt in the darkness.' They have 'horrid bony fingers' and are capable of 'twining themselves round' the Moon. They are repelled by light.
Wants: To perpetuate darkness and evil, to torment and destroy the Moon, their 'old enemy,' who drives them back into the corners.
Flaw: Light. They 'cannot abide the light' and are 'feared lest they shouldn't have time to work their will' when dawn approaches.
They capture and bury the Moon, revel in her absence, but are ultimately driven back by her return.
Malicious, spiteful, cruel, vengeful, cowardly (flee from light), noisy, mocking.
Locations
The Carland Marshes (Bog Edge)
A treacherous, desolate landscape of black water pools, creeping green water trickles, and squishy mools that squirt when stepped on. Waving tussocks and trembling mools are interspersed with great black snags, twisted and bent. The air is thick with the presence of unseen evil.
Mood: Eerie, dangerous, desolate, foreboding, filled with unseen threats.
The Moon descends in human form to investigate the evil, gets trapped by a black snag, and later is buried here.
The Wise Woman's Mill
An old, rustic mill, likely made of local stone and timber, where the Wise Woman resides. It contains a brewpot, a mirror, and a mysterious book used for divination. The interior is likely dim, filled with the scent of herbs and damp earth.
Mood: Mysterious, ancient, comforting, a place of last resort for guidance.
The villagers consult the Wise Woman for help in finding the missing Moon, and she provides them with instructions.
The Burial Site in the Marsh
A specific, deeply ominous spot within the Carland Marshes. A large, dark pool where the Moon was buried, marked by a massive stone resembling a coffin, half in and half out of the water. At its head, a black snag stretches out two arms like a gruesome cross, with a tiny, flickering light on it, like a dying candle.
Mood: Terrifying, sacred, climactic, deeply eerie, a place of both despair and hope.
The villagers follow the Wise Woman's instructions, find the Moon's burial site, and release her, bringing light back to the world.