<p>“Holiday homework!” exclaimed Arun in disgust. “Mrs Mehta seems to have missed the oxymoron in that phrase.”<br /><br />“Oxy-what?” asked Arun’s younger brother, Anil.<br /><br />“An oxymoron is a figure of speech in which opposites combine,” said Arun. “Holiday and homework contradict each other, since — in my view at least — a vacation should be marked by enjoyment not exertion.”<br /><br /> “Wherever do you pick up these literary tidbits, Arun?” asked Anil admiringly.<br /><br />“In Mrs Mehta’s classes,” admitted Arun. “She is an excellent English teacher.”<br /><br /> “In that case,” said Anil, “don’t you think any assignment she sets will prove challenging? What are you supposed to do anyway?”<br /><br /> Arun explained: “On the 2nd of April (a date observed as International Children’s Book Day) Mrs Mehta told us about Hans Christian Andersen. It was his 206th birth anniversary, and Ma’am discussed...”<br /><br /> “‘The Ugly Duckling’!” said Anil excitedly. “Or was it ‘Thumbelina’?”<br /><br /></p>.<p>Arun smiled at his brother’s enthusiasm. “Both of them, and other tales besides,” he said, “also the lesser-known ‘Red Shoes’ — a grim narrative.” “Well, some of the popular fairytales have their serious side too,” pointed out Anil. “The Mermaid suffers, the Match Girl perishes and...”<br /><br />“Anil, you’ve given me a great idea!” interrupted Arun. “Mrs Mehta has allotted various tasks to us according to — what she calls — our ‘individual abilities’. All of them are based on the famous Danish author, and I have to produce a poem. What if I write about the hapless beings one comes across in his works? Wouldn’t that be an interesting Andersen Assignment?”<br /><br /> “Now that is an oxy...., oxy... whatever the word is,” said Anil. “Andersen and assignment just don’t go together. Anything to do with Andersen is an adventure!” <br /><br />Here is Arun’s poem, composed with inputs from Anil. You will find it more entertaining if you are familiar with the stories in which the characters featured here appear.<br /><br />Andersen Land<br /><br /><em>On a fine evening I happened to meet<br />A girl in red shoes who danced down the street;<br />She danced to the left; she danced to the right,<br />‘Stop me,’ she begged, ‘or I’ll dance through the night.’<br /> ‘Who are you?’ I cried, ‘I don’t understand...’<br /> ‘I’m Karen’, she said, ‘of Andersen Land.’<br />Dancing, she went on, ‘There once was a Dane<br />Who told a tale of a girl who was vain,<br />And came to grief through her bright new footwear<br />That wouldn’t come off, much to her despair:<br />A pleasure to read but not so much fun<br />To be in my shoes, please pardon the pun!<br />You needn’t look far if you wish to see<br />Others who make up our strange family:<br />There’s Thumbelina, the Mole’s in pursuit.<br />That’s the sad Mermaid, a beautiful mute;<br />She shed her fish-tail by making the choice<br /> Of gaining legs at the cost of her voice;<br /> The Emperor struts, clad just in his skin;<br />Beside him the Duckling, cast out by its kin.<br />Tin Soldier, steadfast, not keen to retire<br /> Must, like the Fir Tree, go into the fire;<br />The Match Girl shivers, she hasn’t a chance;<br />She’s destined to freeze as I am to dance.<br />Don’t miss the Wild Swans, they’re actually men.<br />We’re all of us victims of Andersen’s pen!’</em></p>
<p>“Holiday homework!” exclaimed Arun in disgust. “Mrs Mehta seems to have missed the oxymoron in that phrase.”<br /><br />“Oxy-what?” asked Arun’s younger brother, Anil.<br /><br />“An oxymoron is a figure of speech in which opposites combine,” said Arun. “Holiday and homework contradict each other, since — in my view at least — a vacation should be marked by enjoyment not exertion.”<br /><br /> “Wherever do you pick up these literary tidbits, Arun?” asked Anil admiringly.<br /><br />“In Mrs Mehta’s classes,” admitted Arun. “She is an excellent English teacher.”<br /><br /> “In that case,” said Anil, “don’t you think any assignment she sets will prove challenging? What are you supposed to do anyway?”<br /><br /> Arun explained: “On the 2nd of April (a date observed as International Children’s Book Day) Mrs Mehta told us about Hans Christian Andersen. It was his 206th birth anniversary, and Ma’am discussed...”<br /><br /> “‘The Ugly Duckling’!” said Anil excitedly. “Or was it ‘Thumbelina’?”<br /><br /></p>.<p>Arun smiled at his brother’s enthusiasm. “Both of them, and other tales besides,” he said, “also the lesser-known ‘Red Shoes’ — a grim narrative.” “Well, some of the popular fairytales have their serious side too,” pointed out Anil. “The Mermaid suffers, the Match Girl perishes and...”<br /><br />“Anil, you’ve given me a great idea!” interrupted Arun. “Mrs Mehta has allotted various tasks to us according to — what she calls — our ‘individual abilities’. All of them are based on the famous Danish author, and I have to produce a poem. What if I write about the hapless beings one comes across in his works? Wouldn’t that be an interesting Andersen Assignment?”<br /><br /> “Now that is an oxy...., oxy... whatever the word is,” said Anil. “Andersen and assignment just don’t go together. Anything to do with Andersen is an adventure!” <br /><br />Here is Arun’s poem, composed with inputs from Anil. You will find it more entertaining if you are familiar with the stories in which the characters featured here appear.<br /><br />Andersen Land<br /><br /><em>On a fine evening I happened to meet<br />A girl in red shoes who danced down the street;<br />She danced to the left; she danced to the right,<br />‘Stop me,’ she begged, ‘or I’ll dance through the night.’<br /> ‘Who are you?’ I cried, ‘I don’t understand...’<br /> ‘I’m Karen’, she said, ‘of Andersen Land.’<br />Dancing, she went on, ‘There once was a Dane<br />Who told a tale of a girl who was vain,<br />And came to grief through her bright new footwear<br />That wouldn’t come off, much to her despair:<br />A pleasure to read but not so much fun<br />To be in my shoes, please pardon the pun!<br />You needn’t look far if you wish to see<br />Others who make up our strange family:<br />There’s Thumbelina, the Mole’s in pursuit.<br />That’s the sad Mermaid, a beautiful mute;<br />She shed her fish-tail by making the choice<br /> Of gaining legs at the cost of her voice;<br /> The Emperor struts, clad just in his skin;<br />Beside him the Duckling, cast out by its kin.<br />Tin Soldier, steadfast, not keen to retire<br /> Must, like the Fir Tree, go into the fire;<br />The Match Girl shivers, she hasn’t a chance;<br />She’s destined to freeze as I am to dance.<br />Don’t miss the Wild Swans, they’re actually men.<br />We’re all of us victims of Andersen’s pen!’</em></p>