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There passed a child of four, a small girl on a footpath…

“There passed a child of four, a small girl on a footpath over the fields, going home in the evening to Erl. They looked at each other with round eyes. "Hullo," said the child. "Hullo, child of men," said the troll. . . . "What are you?" said the child. "A troll of Elfland," answered the troll. "So…” quote by Lord Dunsany
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““There passed a child of four, a small girl on a footpath over the fields, going home in the evening to Erl. They looked at each other with round eyes. "Hullo," said the child. "Hullo, child of men," said the troll. . . . "What are you?" said the child. "A troll of Elfland," answered the troll. "So I thought," said the child. "Where are you going, child of men?" the troll asked. "To the houses," the child replied. "We don't want to go there," said the troll. "N-no," said the child. "Come to Elfland," the troll said. The child thought for a while. Other children had gone, and the elves always sent a changeling in their place, so that nobody quite missed them and nobody really knew. She thought awhile of the wonder and wildness of Elfland, and then of her own house. "N-no," said the child. "Why not?" said the troll. "Mother made a jam roll this morning," said the child. And she walked on gravely home. Had it not been for that chance jam roll she had gone to Elfland. "Jam!" said the troll contemptuously and thought of the tarns of Elfland, the great lily-leaves lying flat upon their solemn waters, the huge blue lilies towering into the elf-light above the green deep tarns: for jam this child had forsaken them!””

Lord Dunsany

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A child resists the lure of a magical realm, choosing ordinary comfort over unknown wonder.

In simple terms: Choosing home over fantasy.

Key Takeaway

Value familiar responsibilities.

Themes

choice temptation home vs adventure

Mood

reflective nostalgic

Type

narrative mythical

When to use this quote

  • family duties
  • travel decisions
  • creative pursuits

Key Concepts

free will consequences

Questions to Reflect On

  • What comforts keep you from exploring?
  • When is staying safe preferable?
A Different Perspective

The story romanticizes the magical but may undervalue growth.

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