III ANALYSIS OF SHORT STORY ELEMENTSPlease tell about the setting, the characters, Plot and themes of the short story below:
THE THREE FEATHERS STORY
Once upon time There was a king who had three sons. The two son were clever. The third son did not
speak much so he was called Simpleton. When the king had become old, he did not know which son
should become the king.
Then he got a bright idea and said; “Go forth, who brings me the most beautiful carpet will be king
after me”. He blew three feathers in the air, and said: “You should go as they fly”. One feather flew to
the east, the second to the west, but the third flew straight up and did not fly far.
So one brother went to the right, and the other to the left. Simpleton was sad because his feather did not
fly far. Then all at once he saw a trap-door close to the feather. He found some steps, and went down
the door. Then he came to another door, knocked at it. The door opened, and he saw a fat toad sitting.
She asked what he wanted. He answered; “I should get the prettiest and finest carpet in the world”.
Then she called a young toad; “Bring me the great box!”
The young toad brought the box. The fat toad opened it, and gave simpleton a carpet out of it. The
carpet was so beautiful. So Simpleton thanked her, and brought it to the kingdom. Meanwhile his
brothers just got some coarse handkerchiefs from a shepherds’ wives whom they had met. When the
king saw Simpleton’s carpet he was very astonished and said; ” Well, the kingdom belongs to the
Simpleton”. But his two brothers argued that it was impossible that simpleton should be king, They
asked the king to make a new agreement.
Then the father said; “Who brings me the most beautiful ring will inherit the kingdom”. He blew three
feathers, which they were to follow. Those of the two eldest again went east and west, and simpleton’s
feather flew straight up, and fell down near the trap-door. Again the fat toad gave him a ring sparkled
with jewels. Meanwhile his two brothers just got old carriage-rings. However they did not cease from
tormenting the king until he made a third condition.
So the king declared; Who brings the most beautiful woman home will be the king”. He again blew the
three feathers into the air. Then Simpleton went down to the fat toad, and said; “I am to take home the
most beautiful woman”. The she gave him a yellow turnip which had been hollowed out. Mournfully
Simpleton said; “What am I to do with it?”. The toad answered; “Just put one of my little toads into
it!”. Then Simpleton seized one little toad and put her into the yellow coach. Surprisingly the little toad
turned into a beautiful maiden. So Simpleton took her to the king. On the other hand, his brother
brought peasant women to the kingdom When the king saw the women he said; “After my death the kingdom belongs to my youngest son”.
But the two eldest brothers kept arguing that whose wife could leap through a ring which hung in the
center of the hall would be the king. The king agreed. Then the two peasant women jumped through the
ring but they fell which made their arms and legs broke. On the other hand, the pretty maiden sprang
through the ring as lightly as a deer which made the two peasants ceased. So Simpleton received the
crown and ruled wisely the kingdom.