The Fir Tree

In Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale “The Fir Tree,” a young fir tree in the forest longs to grow tall and experience more exciting things than its current life offers. It yearns to be cut down and become a ship’s mast, then later desires the splendor of being a decorated Christmas tree in a warm house. After finally achieving its wish of becoming a Christmas tree, its glory is short-lived, leading to its being discarded and realizing too late that it should have appreciated the simple joys of its forest life.