The Last Dream of the Old Oak Tree. a Christmas
A young girl's family moves into an old house where she discovers a dying oak tree that has been the site of her ancestors' Christmas celebrations for generations. The tree's last dream is to see one final Christmas celebration, and the girl helps make it happen by decorating the tree with candles and telling stories about its past.
By Hans Christian Andersen · First published 1843 · Genre: Fairy Tale, Fantasy, Christmas Story · 2,693 words
First lines
In the forest, high up on the steep shore, hard by the open sea coast, stood a very old oak tree. It was exactly three hundred and sixty-five years old, but that long time was not more for the tree than just as many days would be to us men. We wake by day and sleep through the night, and then we have our dreams: it is different with the tree, which keeps awake through three seasons of the year, and does not get its sleep till winter comes. Winter is its time for rest, its night after the long day which is called spring, summer, and autumn.
What this Textopian page supports
The Last Dream of the Old Oak Tree. a Christmas Tale is listed on Textopian as a short story by Hans Christian Andersen, dated 1843 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Hans Christian Andersen
- Date: 1843 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fairy Tale, Fantasy, Christmas Story, Allegory, Children's Literature
- Length: 2,693 words
- Structure: 1 section, 40 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Last Dream of the Old Oak Tree. a Christmas Tale by Hans Christian Andersen
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- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Last Dream of the Old Oak Tree. a Christmas Tale?
- How does this short story by Hans Christian Andersen fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Fairy Tale first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Last Dream Of The Old Oak by Hans Christian Andersen
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- The Phoenix Bird by Hans Christian Andersen
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- The Wishing Bridge by John Greenleaf Whittier
- What Happened To The Thistle by Hans Christian Andersen
Genres
- Fairy Tale — The narrative style, anthropomorphism, and moral lessons are characteristic of fairy tales.
- Fantasy — The story includes fantastical elements such as talking trees and insects, and dream-like sequences.
- Christmas Story — The setting and themes revolve around Christmas, emphasizing the spirit and symbolism of the holiday.
- Allegory — The story uses symbolic figures and actions to convey deeper meanings about life, time, and nature.
Tags
Fable · Fantasy · Christmas Story · Tree Spirit · Nature · Magic · Dreams · Symbolism · Coming of Age · Self-Discovery · Moral Lesson · Whimsy