SATU LILLIN NENÄSTÄ
by Zacharias Topelius · from Lukemisia lapsille 3
Adapted Version
Once, there was a girl named Lilli. She was happy and good at many things. She had a very small nose.
One day, children played a game. "Your nose is so small!" one said. Lilli felt sad.
She looked in a mirror. Her nose was small. Her mother said, "It is fine." But Lilli was still sad.
She went to a doctor. "Can you make my nose longer?" she asked. The doctor looked. "I cannot help," he said.
Lilli met an old woman. "I can help," the old woman said. "When you are sad, your nose will grow."
Lilli lost a toy. She felt sad. Her nose grew a little. She looked in the mirror. Her nose was longer. She smiled. She was happy!
Sometimes it rained on a play day. Sometimes she did not get a sweet. Each time she felt sad, her nose grew. At first, Lilli liked her longer nose.
But her nose grew and grew. It became very long. People laughed a little. Lilli felt embarrassed.
She went back to the doctor. "Please make my nose short!" she cried. The doctor held a small knife. Lilli got scared and ran away.
She looked for the old woman. But the old woman was gone. Lilli's nose kept growing. It grew very, very long. It was silly and funny.
Lilli learned a lesson. It is good to like how you look. Do not wish to change.
Original Story
SATU LILLIN NENÄSTÄ.
Olipa tyttö herttainen ja hellä,
Hän monenmoista osas työskennellä:
Hän karttas, kehräs, kutoi, virkkas, neuloi,
Hän kirnus voita, leipäjauhot seuloi.
Hän astiat ja vaatteet hyvin pesi,
Hän tiesi, mistä arvosta on vesi.
Hän keitti, paistoi, kynttilät hän kasti,
Ja kaljat, olvet pani osavasti.
Hän luki, lauloi, piirusti ja soitti,
Kirjoitti, laski, tanssitaidon voitti.
Hän ulkoapäin osas katkismuksen
Ja historjan, kuin noita lorutuksen.
Hän osas olla siivo, kuuliainen
Ja nöyrä, tyyni, vähän vaativainen.
Hän Jumalaa myös joskus rukoeli.
Hän kaiken kansan suosikkina eli.
Vaan voi, mit' auttoi se nyt tyttö parkaa,
Vaikk' kehräs, kutoi palttinaa ja sarkaa,
Vaikk' keitti, paistoi, pysyi leppyisenä,
Kun hällä oli liian pieni nenä!
Niin, nenä oli hällä pienokainen.
Silmissä suihki ilo ihanainen,
Punoitti posket, heloitti myös huulet,
Mut nenä pieni. Mitäs siitä luulet!
Hän siit' ei mitään piitannutkaan ensin.
Hän niinkuin lintu hilpeänä lensi,
Hän tyttöparvess' iloisa ja virkku,
Niin vapaa, raitis kuni lehdon sirkku.
Kun noppaa nokkaa joululeikkin' oli,
Tapahtui seikka: Lillin vuoro tuli
Ja muuan huus: "no mihin sitä noppaa,
Kenellä ei oo nopattava nokkaa?"
"Mull' eikö nenää?" — "Niin, no vielä vainen
Ois nenä tuo noin pieni pikkarainen!"
Näin muutkin huus nyt hulminassa leikin,
Mut Lilliltä se hauskutuksen veikin.
Hän peilin eteen riens… Se totta juuri,
Ja kun se seikka hänest' oli suuri,
Niin toiset taas: "ei nenää huoli surra,
Sen moist' ei koskaan suudella ei purra."
Kyll' äiti lohduttaa, niin Lilli luuli,
Mut kysyttyään, hältä samaa kuuli:
"Niin, rakas laps, sä pientä nenääs kysyt,
Mut onnen saat, kun siivona vaan pysyt."
Niin, olla siivo, sanottu on pian,
Mut moinen solvaus saa mieleen sijan.
Nyt Lillin olo tuntui tukalalle,
Hän pienen nenäns kätki hatun alle.
Ja turhaan äiti lohdutti kuin ennen;
Ah, Lilli tunsi elon riemun menneen,
Ei muuta neuvoks, tohtorin luo pikaan
Apua saamaan moiseen nenävikaan.
"Ah, herra tohtor, tuskass' auttakaatte
Lyhyttä nenää hieman jatkakaatte!"
"Kuin? Jatkettava? Siin' on puheen kokka!
Tulepas tänne, armas pikku nokka!"
Ja tohtor näpli nenää monta kertaa,
Se jatkunut ei toki hiukan vertaa.
"Niin", — virkkoi tohtor syvämietteisenä, —
"Parasta jättää arvohonsa nenä."
No, mietti Lilli, murise vaan siellä! —
Hän kohtas sitten pienen akan tiellä.
"Hyv' päivää, lapsen', mikäs sua vaivaa,
Mi murhe musta sydäntäsi kaivaa?"
"Oi, rakas vanhus, tuskainen on tieni:
Te itse näätte, kuink' on nenän' pieni.
Sanokaa, miten pitemmäks sen saisin,
Mä luulen sääliin kivet liikuttaisin."
"No, sanoi akka, tarvitsetpa vähän;
Mä tiedän keinon koetellun tähän,
Sen neuvon suon, mä haltiatar rikas,
Sä tohtoritta parantaa voit vikas.
"Siis kuule: kun sä onnellisna milloin
Jotakin hyvää varrot, mutta silloin
Toiveesi pettää, huomaa joka kerran,
Mä sanon, jatkuu nenäs jonkun verran."
"Suur' kiitos, vanhus, täm' on oivallista,
Kun ei vaan mull' ois kauan vartoomista!"
Taas akka: "onhan elon sääntö yllä;
Mä lupaan sulle, nenäs kasvaa kyllä."
Nyt Lilli aivan lohdullisna juoksi
Hedelmäpuunsa ihanaisen luoksi,
Ottaakseen siitä maukkait' omenoita,
Niin kypsiä ja ihmeen koreoita.
Ne hyviks myös ol' ahneet pojat tienneet
Ja mennäyönä koko aarteen vieneet.
Ah, Lilli parka tunsi hämillänsä,
Kuin ois hän saanut piston nenähänsä.
Tietysti Lilli nolostui nyt tuosta.
Hän muisti sisään peilin eteen juosta,
Hän seisoi, katsoi ihan ihmeisenä,
Pitennyt paljon oli pikku nenä.
Ja nytpä Lillin suru iloks suli. —
Mut aika kului, joulu vihdoin tuli.
Ja joululahjoist' ensimäisnä juuri
Lillille tuli laatikko jo suuri.
"Mitähän tuossa", riemuiten hän huusi,
"On varmaan kaunis nukkemamsel' uusi!
Hyh, rumat sukat… hyödylliset muuten."
Ja Lillin nenä taas sai jatkon uuden.
Niin kävi, miten noita sanoi silloin,
Jos Lilli pettyi toiveissansa milloin,
Jos joskus vaihtui ilo ikäväksi,
Niin pikku nenä kasvoi pitemmäksi.
Alussa kyllä täm' ol' aivan somaa,
Kun Lillin nenä kasvoi alinomaa.
Ja äiti, jok' ei noidan tuumaa tiennyt,
Iloiten virkkoi: "tytöss' ihme lie nyt!"
Mut kuinka sopi, tapahtuipa siten,
Jo nenä kasvoi liiaks piammiten.
Kyll' ensin Lilli salaisuutens' sulki,
Vaan viimein täytyi kaikki tuoda julki.
Voi sentään! Nyt ol' äitin sanain mukaan,
Ihmeenä Lilli, kummempi kuin kukaan;
Ja tuskin muuta ihmeteltiin enää,
Kuin Lilli raukan kummallista nenää.
Ei muuta neuvoks, tohtorin luo pikaan
Apua saamaan moiseen nenävikaan.
"On, herra tohtor, nenä pitkä, näätte,
Siis, olkaa hyvä, sitä lyhetkäätte!"
"Kuin? Lyhettävä? Siin' on puheen kokka!
Tulepas tänne, armas pitkä nokka!"
Ja nyt hän tarttui veitseen levokkaasti,
Mut Lilli juoksi tiehens pelokkaasti.
Hän juoks ja huusi: "Voi sä akka julma!
Miks narrasit mun, sult' on tämä pulma!
Miks pieni nenän' minust' oli halpa!
Voi, tule velho, tee sen kasvuun salpa!"
Ja Lilli parka rientää rientämistään,
Ja etsii akkaa, mut ei löydä mistään.
Ilmoittakoon, jos ken on nähnyt akkaa,
Kosk' ei tuo nenän kasvaminen lakkaa!
Ja nyt sen pituus kyynärän jo täyttää,
Se kauhealta, kamalalta näyttää.
Mut sadun neuvo täm' on tiettäväinen:
Jokainen nenääns' olkoon tyytyväinen.
Story DNA
Moral
Be content with what you have, especially your natural appearance, as wishing for changes can lead to unforeseen and undesirable consequences.
Plot Summary
Lilli, a beloved and skilled girl, becomes self-conscious about her small nose after being teased. A doctor offers no help, but an old woman grants her a magical wish: her nose will grow whenever her hopes are dashed. Initially delighted by the growth, Lilli soon finds her nose becoming grotesquely long with every disappointment, turning her into a spectacle. Desperate, she tries to reverse the magic, but the old woman is gone, leaving Lilli with an impossibly long nose as a permanent consequence of her vanity and discontent.
Themes
Emotional Arc
contentment to insecurity to fleeting joy to despair
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Zacharias Topelius was a prominent Finnish author, writing in Swedish, known for his children's literature and fairy tales, often with moralistic undertones. This poem reflects common societal values and anxieties of the 19th century regarding appearance and contentment.
Plot Beats (13)
- Lilli is introduced as a beautiful, skilled, and universally liked girl, despite having a very small nose.
- During a Christmas game, Lilli is teased about her small nose, which makes her suddenly aware and self-conscious of it.
- Lilli consults a mirror, confirms her nose is small, and is further disheartened by her mother's well-meaning but unhelpful advice.
- Distraught, Lilli visits a doctor, who examines her nose but states he cannot make it longer.
- Lilli meets an old woman (a fairy) who offers a magical solution: her nose will grow a little whenever a cherished hope is disappointed.
- Lilli's first disappointment occurs when she finds her prized apples have been stolen, and she feels a prick in her nose.
- Lilli checks the mirror and is overjoyed to find her nose has indeed grown longer.
- Over time, Lilli experiences more disappointments, such as receiving socks instead of a doll for Christmas, and her nose continues to grow, initially to her delight and her mother's wonder.
- The nose grows too long, becoming an object of ridicule and concern, making Lilli feel like a spectacle.
- Lilli returns to the doctor, now begging him to shorten her nose, but he prepares to cut it, terrifying her.
- Lilli flees the doctor, cursing the old woman and desperately searching for her to reverse the spell.
- The old woman is nowhere to be found, and Lilli's nose continues to grow, reaching an absurd length, becoming a source of horror.
- The story concludes with a moral about being content with one's natural appearance.
Characters
Lilli
A charming and gentle young girl of average height and slender build, with a generally pleasant appearance. Her most distinguishing feature is her nose, which starts out unusually small, then grows to an alarming length, eventually reaching a cubit (about 18 inches). Her cheeks are rosy, and her lips are bright.
Attire: Typical Finnish peasant attire of the 19th century: a simple, practical linen dress, possibly with a wool apron, and sturdy shoes or clogs. Her clothes are always clean and well-maintained, reflecting her industrious nature.
Wants: Initially, to be happy and accepted. Later, her primary motivation becomes to fix her nose, first to make it longer to fit societal norms, then to make it shorter to escape ridicule.
Flaw: Her vanity and susceptibility to external opinions. She allows others' comments about her nose to destroy her self-esteem and drive her to extreme measures.
Lilli starts as a happy, well-adjusted girl. She becomes self-conscious and unhappy due to a single comment about her small nose. Her desire to change her appearance leads her to a magical solution that backfires, causing her nose to grow excessively. She ends the story in despair, unable to reverse the change, learning the hard lesson of self-acceptance.
Industrious, cheerful, obedient, humble, initially content, easily influenced by others' opinions, prone to vanity, anxious, and desperate when her appearance changes.
The Old Woman
A small, aged woman, likely with the stooped posture and wrinkled face typical of an old fairy or wise woman in folklore. Her clothing would be simple but perhaps with a subtle, unusual detail hinting at her magical nature.
Attire: Traditional Finnish peasant clothing for an elderly woman: a dark wool skirt, a simple blouse, a knitted shawl, and a headscarf (huivi). The fabric might appear slightly finer or have an unusual weave, subtly hinting at her magical status.
Wants: To teach Lilli a lesson about vanity and self-acceptance through a magical, albeit painful, experience.
Flaw: Not explicitly stated, but her method of teaching is rather extreme and causes significant distress.
She appears to Lilli, offers a magical solution to her problem, and then disappears, leaving Lilli to learn from the consequences. She does not change herself.
Mysterious, wise, seemingly benevolent but ultimately teaches a harsh lesson, somewhat mischievous or trickster-like.
The Doctor
A professional man, likely of a respectable build and height, reflecting his status in the community. He would have a serious, perhaps slightly pompous demeanor.
Attire: Formal 19th-century Finnish professional attire: a dark, well-tailored frock coat, a waistcoat, a white shirt, and a cravat. His clothes would be clean and indicative of his educated status.
Wants: To practice medicine and help patients, though he is limited by conventional science and common sense.
Flaw: His inability to understand or treat magical ailments, and his reliance on conventional methods.
He is consulted twice by Lilli for her nose problem, first to lengthen it, then to shorten it. He is unable to help her with either request, highlighting the magical nature of her problem. He remains unchanged.
Professional, logical, initially dismissive of Lilli's vanity, later bewildered and somewhat alarmed by her condition, practical.
Locations
Lilli's Home (Living Area)
A cozy, well-maintained living space within a traditional Finnish farmhouse, likely featuring a large hearth, wooden furniture, and textiles woven by Lilli herself. The atmosphere is initially cheerful and industrious.
Mood: Initially warm and domestic, later becomes a place of self-consciousness and distress for Lilli.
Lilli plays Christmas games with friends, leading to the first comment about her small nose. She later consults the mirror repeatedly to check her nose's growth.
Lilli's Home (Orchard)
A small, well-tended orchard adjacent to Lilli's home, featuring fruit trees, specifically apple trees, heavy with ripe fruit. The ground would be grassy and well-trodden.
Mood: Initially hopeful and joyful, quickly turning to disappointment and a sense of loss.
Lilli visits her apple tree, expecting to find ripe fruit, but discovers it has been stolen, leading to her first disappointment and the initial growth of her nose.
Rural Road/Path
A simple, unpaved dirt path winding through a rural Finnish landscape, possibly bordered by fields, sparse forests of birch and pine, or low scrub. The path is where Lilli encounters the old woman.
Mood: Initially mundane, then becomes mysterious and pivotal as Lilli receives the 'magic' advice.
Lilli, distressed about her nose, encounters an old woman (a fairy) who gives her the 'cure' for her small nose.