Ole-Lukøie
Encyclopedia
"Ole Lukøje" is a literary fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen
based upon a folk tale telling of a mysterious mythic creature of the Sandman
who gently takes children to sleep and, depending on how good or bad they were, shows them various dreams.
Ole Lukøje's name is actually composed of two parts: Ole being a common Danish
boy's name and Lukøje meaning eye-closer in Danish. In the tale, he visits a boy called Hjalmar every night for a whole week and tells him stories. We learn later that Ole Lukøje is in fact very old—he is Morpheus
the Greek dream god, and in his final tale on Sunday he tells of his brother, likewise called Ole Lukøje but also Death
, who closes the eyes of those he visits and takes them away with him.
Hans Christian Andersen
Hans Christian Andersen was a Danish author, fairy tale writer, and poet noted for his children's stories. These include "The Steadfast Tin Soldier," "The Snow Queen," "The Little Mermaid," "Thumbelina," "The Little Match Girl," and "The Ugly Duckling."...
based upon a folk tale telling of a mysterious mythic creature of the Sandman
Sandman (folklore)
The Sandman is a mythical character in Western folklore who brings good dreams by sprinkling magical sand onto the eyes of children while they sleep at night.-Representation in traditional folklore:...
who gently takes children to sleep and, depending on how good or bad they were, shows them various dreams.
- Under each arm he carries an umbrella; one of them, with pictures on the inside, he spreads over the good children, and then they dream the most beautiful stories the whole night. But the other umbrella has no pictures, and this he holds over the naughty children so that they sleep heavily, and wake in the morning without having dreamed at all.
Ole Lukøje's name is actually composed of two parts: Ole being a common Danish
Danish language
Danish is a North Germanic language spoken by around six million people, principally in the country of Denmark. It is also spoken by 50,000 Germans of Danish ethnicity in the northern parts of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, where it holds the status of minority language...
boy's name and Lukøje meaning eye-closer in Danish. In the tale, he visits a boy called Hjalmar every night for a whole week and tells him stories. We learn later that Ole Lukøje is in fact very old—he is Morpheus
Morpheus (mythology)
Morpheus in Greek mythology is the god of dreams, leader of the Oneiroi. Morpheus has the ability to take any human form and appear in dreams...
the Greek dream god, and in his final tale on Sunday he tells of his brother, likewise called Ole Lukøje but also Death
Death (personification)
The concept of death as a sentient entity has existed in many societies since the beginning of history. In English, Death is often given the name Grim Reaper and, from the 15th century onwards, came to be shown as a skeletal figure carrying a large scythe and clothed in a black cloak with a hood...
, who closes the eyes of those he visits and takes them away with him.
Ole Lukøje on Death
"I will show you my brother. He is also called Ole-Luk-Oie but he never visits any one but once, and when he does come, he takes him away on his horse, and tells him stories as they ride along. He knows only two stories. "One of these is so wonderfully beautiful, that no one in the world can imagine anything at all like it; but the other is just as ugly and frightful, so that it would be impossible to describe it." Then Ole-Luk-Oie lifted Hjalmar up to the window. "There now, you can see my brother, the other Ole-Luk-Oie; he is also called Death. "You perceive he is not so bad as they represent him in picture books; there he is a skeleton, but now his coat is embroidered with silver, and he wears the splendid uniform of a hussar Hussar Hussar refers to a number of types of light cavalry which originated in Hungary in the 14th century, tracing its roots from Serbian medieval cavalry tradition, brought to Hungary in the course of the Serb migrations, which began in the late 14th century.... , and a mantle of black velvet flies behind him, over the horse. Look, how he gallops along." |
"Jeg vil vise Dig min Broder, han hedder ogsaa Ole Lukøie, men han kommer aldrig til nogen meer end eengang og naar han kommer, tager han dem med paa sin Hest og fortæller dem Historier. "Han kan kun to, een der er saa mageløs deilig, at ingen i Verden kan tænke sig den, og een der er saa fæl og gruelig - ja det er ikke til at beskrive!" Og saa løftede Ole Lukøie den lille Hjalmar op i Vinduet og sagde, "der skal Du see min Broder, den anden Ole Lukøie! de kalde ham ogsaa Døden! "Seer Du, han seer slet ikke slem ud, som i Billedebøgerne, hvor han er Been og Knokler! nei, det er Sølvbroderi han har paa Kjolen: det er den deiligste Husar-Uniform! en Kappe af sort Fløiel flyver bag ud over Hesten! See hvor han rider i Gallop." |