The Snow Queen

A malicious mirror makes goodness look worthless and magnifies faults. When it shatters, fragments scatter across the world. Two enter a boy called Kay, changing his sight and freezing his heart. He becomes cruel to his friend Gerda, then disappears with the Snow Queen.

Gerda sets out to find him. An enchantress keeps her in a garden, making her forget her search, until roses restore her memory. She questions the other flowers, but none can tell her where Kay is. Then she escapes the garden.

A crow directs her to a palace, believing its new prince might be Kay. He is not, but the prince and princess give her clothes and a carriage. Robbers seize her. A robber woman’s daughter protects Gerda and eventually releases her with a reindeer, after birds report seeing Kay travelling north.

The reindeer carries her to two northern women. The Finn woman explains that Kay remains enchanted and that Gerda’s innocent heart already gives her the strength she needs. Gerda continues through the snow, praying as she approaches the palace.

She finds Kay occupied with arranging ice fragments. Her tears thaw his heart and remove its glass. She sings a Christian hymn; Kay cries, washing the other fragment from his eye. He recognises her, and they leave together.

Helped on their return, they meet the robber girl again and reach home. They have grown into adults, yet recover their childhood closeness. Their grandmother reads a Gospel saying about becoming like children, and they understand their old song anew.