PEKAN SEIKKAILUT
by Zacharias Topelius · from Lukemisia lapsille 6
Adapted Version
Pekka was a poor boy. He had to leave home. His family had no food. They said goodbye kindly. It was a hard time. Pekka was sad but ready.
Pekka took his bag. He put berries inside. He walked into the world. He was brave. The sun was bright.
A hungry squirrel came. It looked very sad. "I am so hungry," the squirrel said softly. Pekka gave it berries. "Here you are," he said. The squirrel was happy. It said thank you. Pekka felt good.
Pekka filled his bag. He got water from a stream. The water was cold and clear. He saw a sick bird. It sat on the ground. "I feel sick," the bird said weakly. Pekka gave it water. "This will help," he said. The bird felt better. It chirped a little song. Pekka kept a feather. It was soft and white.
Pekka walked on. He saw a lazy cat. The cat was sleeping. It did not want to move. "I am too tired," the cat said slowly. Pekka tickled the cat. He used the soft feather. The cat jumped up. It ran away to play. Pekka smiled.
A tricky mouse came. It spoke in a sly way. "Take the easy path," the mouse said. "Come this way." Pekka said, "No, thank you." He was firm. The mouse went away. Pekka smiled and walked on. He kept going.
Pekka met a wise lion. It looked very big. "Why are you brave?" the lion asked kindly. Pekka stood tall. His bag was empty. "I help others," Pekka said. "I am not afraid."
The lion smiled. It spoke with a warm voice. "You are brave and kind," the lion said. "Help others, and good things come to you." The lion gave him a gift. It was a shiny stone. The stone glowed softly.
Pekka smiled. He could be brave and kind each day. He held the shiny stone. He felt strong and happy. The end.
Original Story
PEKAN SEIKKAILUT.
(Nälkävuonna, keväällä 1868.)
Ken on tuo poika murheeton,
Mi kulkee tuolla tiellä?
Se reipas Pekka itse on;
Kas, hän ei nolomiellä.
Hänestä kulkee huhuja
— Sen syy, jos puhun valhetta:
— Hoo, virkkoi Pekka.
Hän oli köyhä poika, jolla ei ollut isää eikä äitiä, ja häntä oli kasvatettu sukulaistensa luona niin kauan, kun heillä oli hänelle leipää antaa. Mutta tuli suuri katovuosi maahan, sukulaiset itse köyhtyivät ja sanoivat Pekalle:
Nyt loppui leipä viimeinen,
Eik' yhtään rahaa meillä.
Sun täytyy leipäs, poikanen,
Ansaita mieron teillä.
Saat selkääs, Pekka, pussin tään,
Ja sinäkin käy kerjäämään!
— Hoo, virkkoi Pekka.
Ja hän otti pussin, sulloi sen täyteen sammalia metsänrinteestä ja läksi ulos avaraan maailmaan. Eipä hän etäälle ehtinyt, ennenkuin hänelle tuli vastaan nälkäinen susi, näytti julmaa kitaansa ja sanoi:
Sinusta oivan paistin saan.
Mä olen Näljänhätä,
Käyn kelmeänä kautta maan,
En henkiin hevin jätä.
Varroppa, nyt ei toivoa;
Mä syön sun heti paikalla!
— Hoo, virkkoi Pekka.
Mutta kun susi aukasi kitansa, niin Pekka viskasi siihen sammalet ja juoksi tiehensä. Sitte hän otti pussinsa täyteen vettä (sillä se oli vedenpitävä) ja astui edelleen. Ei hän pitkälle päässyt, kun tuli vastaan takkuinen karhu, jonka silmät leimusivat, ja karhu sanoi hänelle:
Tervekkö tänä vuonnakin
Sä vehnäleivän lailla?
Mä Tauti olen, kuljeksin
Ja toimin näillä mailla:
Lyön maahan vanhan, nuorenkin,
Ja, katso, nyt lyön sinutkin!
— Hoo, virkkoi Pekka.
Samassa nosti karhu mahtavan käpälänsä; mutta Pekka heitti sille kylmää vettä selkään ja juoksi tiehensä. Sitte hän katkoi pussinsa täyteen koivun vitsoja ja astuskeli edelleen, vaan jo vähän matkan päässä näki nälkäytyneen härjän tien vieressä loikovan ja heiniä päivänpaisteessa pureksivan. Härkä sanoi hänelle:
Miks käydä viitsit ollenkaan?
On puuhas turha aivan.
Mä Laiskuus olen, nautin vaan
Ja hylkään kaiken vaivan.
En jaksa tulla luoksesi;
Käy tänne puskeakseni!
— Hoo, virkkoi Pekka.
Ja hän otti koivun vitsat pussista ja antoi härjälle niin oivallisen selkäsaunan, että härkä lähti pakoon, minkä suinkin pääsi. Pekka poimi sitte kiviä pussiin ja astui edelleen. Kuljettuaan kappaleen matkaa tapasi hän ketun, joka sanoi hänelle:
Miks kerjäät leipäs, narri, noin?
Varasta se tai ryöstä!
Mä olen Kavaluus ja voin
Niin hyvin muiden työstä.
Käy, pidä kiinni hännästäin,
Ja kaikki käy kuin tanssi näin.
— Hoo, virkkoi Pekka.
Ja hän otti kivet pussista ja viskeli niillä kettua, niin että sillä korvat soivat. Kettu livisti käpälämäkeen aika hojakkaa, ja Pekka nauroi niin, ett'ei muistanut mitään pussiinsa poimia. Kun hän sitte astui kotvasen, tuli vastaan leijona, joka hänelle sanoi:
Minussa näet Kohtalon,
Mi kurjan henkes hukkaa.
Mik' oikeus sun elää on?
Mult' elos kerjää, rukka!
Sä muuten, orja sattuman,
Saat vilu-, nälkäkuoleman.
— Hoo, virkkoi Pekka.
Hän heitti pussin, tarttui leijonan tuuheaan harjaan ja alkoi painiskella. Sepä oli ponnistelua se. Ylpeä leijona kiljui niin, että vuoret vapisivat, ja kohotti hirveän käpälänsä, kaataakseen Pekan maahan. Pianpa olisi hänestä loppu tullut. Mutta voima maan päällä rakastaa säikähtymätöntä uljuutta, ja leijona rupesi ystävälliseksi Pekalle. Huolimatta häntä ruhjoa otti se hänet kuin lapsen syliinsä ja sanoi:
Ken vastaan kovaa onnea
Jalosti käydä koittaa,
Hänelle annan voimia,
Niin hädän voi hän voittaa.
Siis elä! Maalles voiton suon;
Sen onnen moiset pojat luo.
— Hoo, virkkoi Pekka.
Story DNA
Moral
Through courage and resourcefulness, one can overcome even the greatest adversities and shape their own destiny.
Plot Summary
During a severe famine, an orphaned boy named Pekka is sent away by his relatives to beg. Armed with only a waterproof bag, he encounters and cleverly defeats personified forms of 'Famine' (a wolf), 'Sickness' (a bear), 'Laziness' (an ox), and 'Deceit' (a fox) using various simple objects. Finally, with an empty bag, he confronts 'Fate' (a lion) and, through sheer courage, wrestles with it. Impressed by his bravery, 'Fate' grants him strength and promises a prosperous future for his land, recognizing that such individuals create their own good fortune.
Themes
Emotional Arc
suffering to triumph
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
The Great Famine of 1866-1868 was the last widespread famine in Western Europe, causing significant mortality in Finland. This context underscores the dire circumstances Pekka faces and the real-world threats the personified antagonists represent.
Plot Beats (13)
- Pekka, a poor orphan, is told by his relatives that they can no longer feed him due to a famine and he must go beg.
- Pekka takes a waterproof bag, fills it with moss, and sets out into the world.
- He encounters a hungry wolf, personifying 'Famine', who threatens to eat him.
- Pekka throws the moss into the wolf's mouth and escapes, then refills his bag with water.
- He meets a fierce bear, personifying 'Sickness', who threatens to strike him down.
- Pekka throws cold water on the bear and flees, then fills his bag with birch switches.
- He finds a lazy ox, personifying 'Laziness', who tells him his efforts are futile and demands he come closer to be pushed.
- Pekka whips the ox with the birch switches, making it run away, then fills his bag with stones.
- He encounters a fox, personifying 'Deceit', who advises him to steal instead of beg and offers to lead him astray.
- Pekka pelts the fox with stones, scaring it off, and laughs so hard he forgets to refill his bag.
- He then meets a lion, personifying 'Fate', who questions his right to live and threatens him with a cold, hungry death.
- Having nothing left in his bag, Pekka throws the empty bag aside and grapples with the lion.
- The lion, impressed by Pekka's fearless courage, embraces him and declares that those who bravely face adversity will be given strength to overcome it, promising victory for his land because of such boys.
Characters
Pekka
A lean, agile boy, likely small for his age due to hardship, but with a sturdy build that belies his youth. His movements are quick and decisive, reflecting his resourceful nature. He is of Finnish ethnicity, so he would have fair skin, possibly reddened by exposure to the elements.
Attire: Simple, worn peasant clothing typical of 19th-century Finland during a famine. This would include a coarse, homespun linen or wool tunic, likely in muted earth tones like grey or undyed brown, patched and mended. He wears practical, sturdy trousers, possibly made of similar rough fabric, and simple leather or bark shoes, or even goes barefoot. His most prominent item is a waterproof satchel slung over his shoulder.
Wants: To survive and find his own way in the world, to overcome the hardships of the famine and the personified evils he encounters.
Flaw: His youth and lack of physical strength against larger adversaries, though he compensates with cunning.
He transforms from a vulnerable, orphaned boy into a symbol of resilience and hope, proving that courage and resourcefulness can overcome even the most daunting personified evils. He learns to trust his own abilities and becomes a beacon of strength for his land.
Fearless, resourceful, quick-witted, resilient, and optimistic. He faces overwhelming challenges with a simple, unwavering resolve and a clever solution for each.
Nälkänhätä (Hunger)
A gaunt, emaciated wolf, larger than average, with ribs visible beneath its mangy, dull grey fur. Its movements are predatory and swift, driven by an insatiable emptiness. Its eyes are sunken and glow with a malevolent, desperate hunger.
Attire: None, as it is an animal.
Wants: To devour and destroy, driven by an endless hunger.
Flaw: Its overwhelming hunger makes it vulnerable to distraction and trickery, as Pekka exploits by throwing moss into its mouth.
It is temporarily thwarted by Pekka's cleverness but remains a persistent threat, representing the ongoing struggle against famine.
Cruel, predatory, insatiable, and relentless. It embodies the desperate, consuming nature of famine.
Tauti (Sickness)
A large, shaggy brown bear, its fur matted and unkempt, giving it a sickly appearance despite its immense size. Its movements are heavy and powerful, yet carry an underlying sluggishness, as if burdened by its own affliction. Its eyes burn with a feverish intensity.
Attire: None, as it is an animal.
Wants: To strike down and weaken all living beings, spreading its affliction.
Flaw: Its overwhelming power makes it susceptible to sudden, unexpected attacks, like the cold water Pekka throws.
It is temporarily repelled by Pekka's quick action but remains a lurking danger, symbolizing the ongoing fight against illness.
Destructive, indiscriminate, and relentless. It embodies the widespread and debilitating nature of disease.
Laiskuus (Laziness)
A large, well-fed ox, surprisingly plump despite the famine, lying by the roadside. Its coat is a dull, dusty brown, and its movements are slow and ponderous, marked by extreme reluctance. Its eyes are half-closed, conveying a profound apathy.
Attire: None, as it is an animal.
Wants: To avoid all effort and simply exist in a state of ease, even if it means neglecting responsibilities or opportunities.
Flaw: Its extreme aversion to effort makes it vulnerable to forceful prodding and discomfort, as Pekka demonstrates with the birch switches.
It is roused from its stupor by Pekka's forceful intervention, showing that even deep-seated idleness can be overcome with effort.
Apathetic, indolent, and self-indulgent. It embodies the destructive power of inaction and complacency.
Kavaluus (Deceit)
A sleek, cunning fox with bright, intelligent eyes and a perpetually sly expression. Its fur is a vibrant reddish-brown, well-groomed despite its nature. Its movements are quick, agile, and often stealthy, always looking for an advantage.
Attire: None, as it is an animal.
Wants: To gain advantage and benefit from the efforts of others through trickery and theft.
Flaw: Its reliance on cunning makes it vulnerable to direct, forceful confrontation, as Pekka demonstrates with the stones.
It is driven away by Pekka's direct action, showing that honesty and integrity can overcome the allure of deceit.
Sly, manipulative, opportunistic, and self-serving. It embodies the temptation to achieve success through dishonest means.
Kohtalo (Fate)
A magnificent, powerful lion with a thick, golden mane and piercing, regal eyes. Its muscles ripple beneath its tawny coat, indicating immense strength. Its movements are deliberate and majestic, exuding an aura of undeniable authority.
Attire: None, as it is an animal.
Wants: To assert its absolute power and determine the course of life and death, testing the spirit of those who defy it.
Flaw: Its pride and respect for true, unyielding courage. It cannot break a spirit that refuses to yield.
Initially a formidable adversary, it is ultimately impressed and softened by Pekka's indomitable courage, transforming into an ally that grants strength and victory to the land. It learns that true strength lies not in crushing, but in recognizing and empowering valiant spirits.
Proud, powerful, authoritative, and initially dismissive. It represents the overwhelming, seemingly unchangeable forces of destiny and circumstance.
Locations
Finnish Countryside Road
A winding, unpaved road cutting through a sparse, northern forest landscape, likely with birch and pine trees. The ground is uneven, possibly with exposed roots and patches of moss. The air is cool and crisp, indicative of early spring in a famine year.
Mood: Desolate, challenging, yet with a sense of quiet determination.
Pekka begins his journey, encountering personified challenges like Hunger, Sickness, Laziness, Deceit, and Fate on this road.
Forest Edge
The boundary where the open road meets the denser parts of the forest, characterized by a mix of trees and undergrowth. This is where Pekka gathers moss and later birch switches, suggesting a varied and accessible natural environment.
Mood: Resourceful, wild, a place of immediate utility.
Pekka fills his bag with moss, then later with birch switches, preparing for his encounters.