The Wonderful Wizard of Oz | Gradually Hardening Danish A2 Translation Books

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz | Gradually Hardening Danish A2 Translation Books

Embrace the benefits of this cutting-edge translation method, offering a tailored learning experience by letting you select the difficulty level that fits you best. It improves your comprehension by urging you to deduce meanings from context, reducing the need for constant translation. While some translations are intentionally masked to encourage guessing, it's always acceptable to check unfamiliar words. This method strikes the perfect balance between challenge and accessibility, making language learning both effective and enjoyable. Immerse yourself in these translated classics and uncover the pleasure of learning through literary exploration.

Introduction
Folklore,legends,mythsandfairytaleshavefollowedchildhoodthroughtheages,foreveryhealthyyoungsterhasawholesomeandinstinctiveloveforstoriesfantastic,marvelousandmanifestlyunreal.
ThewingedfairiesofGrimmandAndersenhavebroughtmorehappinesstochildishheartsthanallotherhumancreations.
Yettheoldtimefairytale,havingservedforgenerations,maynowbeclassedas“historical”inthechildren’slibrary;
forthetimehascomeforaseriesofnewer“wondertales”inwhichthestereotypedgenie,dwarfandfairyareeliminated,togetherwithallthehorribleandblood-curdlingincidentsdevisedbytheirauthorstopointafearsomemoraltoeachtale.
Moderneducationincludesmorality;
thereforethemodernchildseeksonlyentertainmentinitswondertalesandgladlydispenseswithalldisagreeableincident.
Havingthisthoughtinmind,thestoryof“The
Vidunderlige
Wonderful
WizardofOz”waswrittensolelytopleasechildrenoftoday.
Itaspirestobeingamodernizedfairytale,inwhichthewondermentandjoyareretainedandtheheartachesandnightmaresareleftout.
L.
ChapterITheCyclone
DorothylivedinthemidstofthegreatKansasprairies,withUncleHenry,whowasafarmer,and
Tante
Aunt
Em,whowasthefarmer’swife.
Theirhousewassmall,forthelumberto
bygge
build
ithadtobecarriedbywagonmanymiles.
Therewerefourwalls,a
gulv
floor
andaroof,whichmadeoneroom;
andthisroomcontainedarustylookingcookstove,acupboardforthedishes,a
bord
table
,threeorfourchairs,andthebeds.
UncleHenryand
Tante
Aunt
Emhadabigbedinonecorner,andDorothyalittlebedinanothercorner.
Therewasnogarretatall,andnocellar—exceptasmall
hul
hole
dugintheground,calledacyclonecellar,wherethefamilycouldgoincaseoneofthosegreatwhirlwindsarose,mightyenoughtocrushany
bygning
building
initspath.
Itwas
nåede
reached
byatrapdoorinthe
midten
middle
ofthefloor,fromwhichaladder
førte
led
downintothesmall,
mørke
dark
hole.
WhenDorothystoodinthedoorwayandlookedaround,shecouldseenothingbutthegreatgrayprairieoneveryside.
Nota
træ
tree
norahousebrokethebroadsweepofflatcountrythat
nåede
reached
totheedgeofthe
himlen
sky
inalldirections.
The
solen
sun
hadbakedtheplowed
jord
land
intoagraymass,withlittlecracksrunningthroughit.
Eventhegrasswasnot
grønt
green
,forthesunhadburnedthetopsofthelongbladesuntiltheywerethesamegraycolortobeseen
overalt
everywhere
.
Oncethehousehadbeenpainted,butthe
solen
sun
blisteredthepaintandtherains
vaskede
washed
itaway,andnowthehousewasasdullandgrayaseverythingelse.
When
Tante
Aunt
Emcametheretoliveshewasayoung,prettywife.
The
solen
sun
andwindhadchangedher,too.
Theyhadtakenthesparklefromhereyesandleftthemasobergray;
theyhadtakentheredfromhercheeksandlips,andtheyweregrayalso.
Shewasthinandgaunt,andnever
smilede
smiled
now.
WhenDorothy,whowasanorphan,firstcametoher,
Tante
Aunt
Emhadbeensostartledbythechild’slaughterthatshewouldscreamand
trykke
press
herhanduponherheartwheneverDorothy’smerry
stemme
voice
reachedherears;
andshestilllookedatthelittlegirlwithwonderthatshecouldfindanythingto
grine
laugh
at.
UncleHenrynever
grinede
laughed
.
Heworkedhardfrommorningtillnightanddidnotknowwhatjoywas.
Hewasgrayalso,fromhislongbeardtohisroughboots,andhelookedsternandsolemn,andrarelyspoke.
ItwasTotothatmadeDorothy
grine
laugh
,andsavedherfromgrowingasgrayasherothersurroundings.
Totowasnotgray;
hewasalittleblackdog,withlongsilkyhairandsmallblackeyesthattwinkledmerrilyoneithersideofhisfunny,wee
næse
nose
.
Totoplayedalldaylong,andDorothyplayedwithhim,andlovedhimdearly.
Today,
dog
however
,theywerenotplaying.
UncleHenrysatuponthedoorstepandlookedanxiouslyatthe
himlen
sky
,whichwasevengrayerthanusual.
DorothystoodinthedoorwithTotoinherarms,andlookedatthe
himlen
sky
too.
AuntEmwas
vaskede
washing
thedishes.
Fromthefar
nord
north
theyheardalowwailofthewind,andUncleHenryandDorothycouldseewherethelonggrassbowedinwavesbeforethecomingstorm.
Therenowcameasharpwhistlingintheairfromthe
syd
south
,andastheyturnedtheireyesthatwaytheysawripplesinthegrasscomingfromthatdirectionalso.
Pludselig
Suddenly
UncleHenrystoodup.
“There’sacyclonecoming,Em,”hecalledtohiswife.
“I’llgolookafterthestock.”
Thenherantowardtheshedswherethecowsandhorseswerekept.
Tante
Aunt
Emdroppedherworkandcametothedoor.
Oneglancetoldherofthedangercloseathand.
“Quick,Dorothy!”
shescreamed.
“Runforthecellar!”
Toto
sprang
jumped
outofDorothy’sarmsand
gemte
hid
underthebed,andthegirlstartedtogethim.
Tante
Aunt
Em,badlyfrightened,threwopenthetrapdoorinthe
gulvet
floor
andclimbeddowntheladderintothesmall,
mørke
dark
hole.
DorothycaughtTotoatlastandstartedtofollowher
tante
aunt
.
Whenshewashalfway
over
across
theroomtherecameagreatshriekfromthewind,andthehouseshooksohardthatshelostherfootingandsatdown
pludselig
suddenly
uponthefloor.
Thenastrangethinghappened.
Thehousewhirledaroundtwoorthreetimesandroseslowlythroughtheair.
Dorothyfeltasifsheweregoingupinaballoon.
The
nord
north
andsouthwindsmetwherethehousestood,andmadeittheexactcenterofthecyclone.
Inthe
midten
middle
ofacyclonetheairisgenerallystill,butthegreatpressureofthewindoneverysideofthehouseraisedituphigherandhigher,untilitwasattheverytopofthecyclone;
andthereitremainedandwascarriedmilesandmilesawayaseasilyasyoucould
bære
carry
afeather.
Itwasvery
mørkt
dark
,andthewindhowledhorriblyaroundher,butDorothyfoundshewas
red
riding
quiteeasily.
Afterthefirstfewwhirlsaround,andoneothertimewhenthehousetippedbadly,shefeltasifshewerebeingrockedgently,likeababyinacradle.
Totodidnotlikeit.
Heranabouttheroom,nowhere,nowthere,barkingloudly;
butDorothysatquitestillonthe
gulvet
floor
andwaitedtoseewhatwouldhappen.
OnceTotogottoo
tæt
near
theopentrapdoor,andfellin;
andatfirstthelittlegirlthoughtshehadlosthim.
Butsoonshesawoneofhisearsstickingupthroughthe
hullet
hole
,forthestrongpressureoftheairwaskeepinghimupsothathecouldnotfall.
Shecrepttothe
hullet
hole
,caughtTotobytheear,anddraggedhimintotheroomagain,afterwardclosingthetrapdoorsothatnomoreaccidentscouldhappen.
Hourafterhourpassedaway,andslowlyDorothygotoverherfright;
butshefeltquitelonely,andthewindshriekedsoloudlyallaboutherthatshenearlybecamedeaf.
Atfirstshehad
undret
wondered
ifshewouldbedashedtopieceswhenthehousefellagain;
butasthehourspassedandnothingterriblehappened,shestoppedworryingandresolvedtowaitcalmlyandseewhatthe
fremtiden
future
wouldbring.
Atlastshecrawledovertheswaying
gulv
floor
toherbed,andlaydownuponit;
andTotofollowedandlaydownbesideher.
ChapterIITheCouncilwiththeMunchkins
Shewasawakenedbyashock,sosuddenandseverethatifDorothyhadnotbeenlyingonthesoftbedshemighthavebeenhurt.
Asitwas,thejarmadehercatchherbreathand
undre
wonder
whathadhappened;
andTotoputhiscoldlittle
næse
nose
intoherfaceandwhineddismally.
Dorothysatupand
mærke
noticed
thatthehousewasnotmoving;
heller ikke
nor
wasitdark,forthebrightsunshinecameinatthe
vinduet
window
,floodingthelittleroom.
ShesprangfromherbedandwithTotoatherheelsranandopenedthedoor.
Thelittlegirlgaveacryofamazementandlookedabouther,hereyes
voksede
growing
biggerandbiggeratthe
vidunderlige
wonderful
sightsshesaw.
Thecyclonehadsetthehousedownverygently—foracyclone—inthemidstofacountryofmarvelous
skønhed
beauty
.
Therewerelovelypatchesofgreenswardallabout,withstatelytreesbearing
rige
rich
andlusciousfruits.
Banksofgorgeousflowerswereoneveryhand,andbirdswithrareandbrilliantplumagesangandflutteredinthetreesandbushes.
Alittlewayoffwasasmallbrook,rushingandsparklingalongbetween
grønne
green
banks,andmurmuringina
stemme
voice
verygratefultoalittlegirlwhohadlivedsolongonthedry,grayprairies.
Whileshestoodlookingeagerlyatthe
mærkelige
strange
andbeautifulsights,she
mærke
noticed
comingtowardhera
gruppe
group
ofthequeerestpeopleshehadeverseen.
Theywerenotasbigasthegrownfolkshehadalwaysbeenusedto;
butneitherweretheyverysmall.
Infact,theyseemedaboutastallasDorothy,whowasawell-grownchildforher
alder
age
,althoughtheywere,sofaraslooksgo,manyyearsolder.
Threeweremenandoneawoman,andallwereoddly
klædt
dressed
.
Theyworeroundhatsthatrosetoasmallpointa
fod
foot
abovetheirheads,withlittlebellsaroundthebrimsthattinkledsweetlyastheymoved.
Thehatsofthemenwere
blå
blue
;
thelittlewoman’shatwaswhite,andshe
bar
wore
awhitegownthathunginpleatsfromhershoulders.
Overitweresprinkledlittlestarsthatglistenedinthe
solen
sun
likediamonds.
Themenwere
klædt
dressed
inblue,ofthesameshadeastheirhats,and
bar
wore
well-polishedbootswitha
dyb
deep
rollofblueatthetops.
Themen,Dorothythought,wereaboutasoldasUncleHenry,fortwoofthemhadbeards.
Butthelittlewomanwasdoubtlessmucholder.
Herfacewas
dækket
covered
withwrinkles,herhairwasnearlywhite,andshewalkedratherstiffly.
WhenthesepeopledrewnearthehousewhereDorothywasstandinginthedoorway,theypausedandwhisperedamongthemselves,asifafraidtocomefarther.
ButthelittleoldwomanwalkeduptoDorothy,madea
lav
low
bowandsaid,inasweet
stemme
voice:
.
“Youarewelcome,mostnobleSorceress,tothe
land
land
oftheMunchkins.
WearesogratefultoyouforhavingkilledtheWickedWitchofthe
Øst
East
,andforsettingourpeoplefreefrombondage.”
Dorothylistenedtothisspeechwithwonder.
Whatcouldthelittlewomanpossiblymeanbycallingherasorceress,andsayingshehadkilledtheWickedWitchofthe
Østen
East
?
Dorothywasaninnocent,harmlesslittlegirl,whohadbeen
båret
carried
byacyclonemanymilesfromhome;
andshehadneverkilledanythinginallherlife.
Butthelittlewomanevidently
forventede
expected
hertoanswer;
soDorothysaid,withhesitation,“Youareverykind,buttheremustbesomemistake.
Ihavenotkilledanything.”
“Yourhousedid,anyway,”repliedthelittleoldwoman,witha
grin
laugh
,“andthatisthesamething.
See!”
she
fortsatte
continued
,pointingtothecornerofthehouse.
“Therearehertwo
fødder
feet
,stillstickingoutfromunderablockofwood.”
Dorothylooked,andgavealittlecryoffright.
There,indeed,justunderthecornerofthegreatbeamthehouserestedon,two
fødder
feet
werestickingout,shodinsilver
sko
shoes
withpointedtoes.
“Oh,dear!
Oh,dear!”
græd
cried
Dorothy,claspingherhandstogetherindismay.
“Thehousemusthavefallenonher.
Whatevershallwedo?”
“Thereisnothingtobedone,”saidthelittlewomancalmly.
“Butwhowasshe?”
askedDorothy.
“ShewastheWickedWitchofthe
Øst
East
,asIsaid,”answeredthelittlewoman.
“ShehasheldalltheMunchkinsinbondageformanyyears,makingthemslaveforhernightandday.
Nowtheyareallsetfree,andaregratefultoyouforthefavor.”
“WhoaretheMunchkins?”
inquiredDorothy.
“Theyarethepeoplewholiveinthis
land
land
oftheEastwheretheWickedWitchruled.”
“AreyouaMunchkin?”
askedDorothy.
“No,butIamtheirfriend,althoughIliveinthe
land
land
oftheNorth.
WhentheysawtheWitchofthe
Østen
East
wasdeadtheMunchkinssentaswiftmessengertome,andIcameatonce.
IamtheWitchoftheNorth.”
“Oh,gracious!”
græd
cried
Dorothy.
“Areyouarealwitch?”
“Yes,indeed,”answeredthelittlewoman.
“ButIamagoodwitch,andthepeopleloveme.
IamnotaspowerfulastheWickedWitchwaswhoruledhere,orIshouldhavesetthepeoplefreemyself.”
“ButIthoughtallwitcheswerewicked,”saidthegirl,whowashalffrightenedatfacingarealwitch.
“Oh,no,thatisagreatmistake.
Therewereonlyfourwitchesinallthe
Land
Land
ofOz,andtwoofthem,thosewholiveinthe
Nord
North
andtheSouth,aregoodwitches.
Iknowthisistrue,forIamoneofthemmyself,andcannotbemistaken.
Thosewhodweltinthe
Øst
East
andtheWestwere,indeed,wickedwitches;
butnowthatyouhavekilledoneofthem,thereisbutoneWickedWitchinallthe
Land
Land
ofOz—theonewholivesintheWest.”
“But,”saidDorothy,afteramoment’sthought,“AuntEmhastoldmethatthewitcheswerealldead—yearsandyearsago.”
“Whois
Tante
Aunt
Em?”
inquiredthelittleoldwoman.
“Sheismy
tante
aunt
wholivesinKansas,whereIcamefrom.”
TheWitchoftheNorthseemedtothinkforatime,withherheadbowedandhereyesuponthe
jorden
ground
.
Thenshelookedupandsaid,“IdonotknowwhereKansasis,forIhaveneverheardthatcountrymentionedbefore.
Buttellme,isitacivilizedcountry?”
“Oh,yes,”repliedDorothy.
“Thenthataccountsforit.
InthecivilizedcountriesIbelievetherearenowitchesleft,norwizards,norsorceresses,normagicians.
But,yousee,the
Land
Land
ofOzhasneverbeencivilized,forwearecutofffromalltherestoftheworld.
Thereforewestillhavewitchesandwizardsamongstus.”
“Whoarethewizards?”
askedDorothy.
“OzhimselfistheGreatWizard,”answeredtheWitch,sinkingher
stemme
voice
toawhisper.
“Heismorepowerfulthanalltherestofustogether.
HelivesintheCityofEmeralds.”
Dorothywasgoingtoaskanotherquestion,butjustthentheMunchkins,whohadbeenstandingsilentlyby,gavealoudshoutandpointedtothecornerofthehousewheretheWickedWitchhadbeenlying.
“Whatisit?”
askedthelittleoldwoman,andlooked,and
begyndte
began
tolaugh.
ThefeetofthedeadWitchhaddisappearedentirely,andnothingwasleftbutthesilver
sko
shoes
.
“Shewassoold,”
forklarede
explained
theWitchofthe
Nordlige
North
,“thatshedriedup
hurtigt
quickly
inthesun.Thatistheendofher.
Butthesilver
sko
shoes
areyours,andyoushallhavethemtowear.”
Shereacheddownandpickedupthe
skoene
shoes
,andaftershakingthedustoutofthemhandedthemtoDorothy.
“TheWitchoftheEastwas
stolt
proud
ofthosesilvershoes,”saidoneoftheMunchkins,“andthereissomecharmconnectedwiththem;
butwhatitisweneverknew.”
Dorothy
bar
carried
theshoesintothehouseandplacedthemonthe
bordet
table
.
ThenshecameoutagaintotheMunchkinsandsaid:.
“Iamanxioustogetbacktomy
tante
aunt
anduncle,forIamsuretheywillworryaboutme.
Canyouhelpmefindmyway?”
TheMunchkinsandtheWitchfirstlookedatoneanother,andthenatDorothy,andthenshooktheirheads.
“Atthe
Øst
East
,notfarfromhere,”saidone,“thereisagreatdesert,and
ingen
none
couldlivetocrossit.”
“ItisthesameattheSouth,”saidanother,“forIhavebeenthereandseenit.
TheSouthisthecountryoftheQuadlings.”
“Iamtold,”saidthe
tredje
third
man,“thatitisthesameatthe
Vesten
West
.
Andthatcountry,wheretheWinkieslive,isruledbytheWickedWitchofthe
Vesten
West
,whowouldmakeyouherslaveifyoupassedherway.”
“TheNorthismyhome,”saidtheoldlady,“andatitsedgeisthesamegreatdesertthatsurroundsthis
Land
Land
ofOz.I’mafraid,mydear,youwillhavetolivewithus.”
Dorothy
begyndte
began
tosobatthis,forshefeltlonelyamongallthesestrangepeople.
Hertearsseemedtogrievethekind-heartedMunchkins,forthey
straks
immediately
tookouttheirhandkerchiefsand
begyndte
began
toweepalso.
Asforthelittleoldwoman,shetookoffhercapandbalancedthepointontheendofher
næse
nose
,whileshecounted“One,two,three”inasolemn
stemme
voice
.
Atoncethecapchangedtoaslate,onwhichwaswritteninbig,whitechalkmarks:.
“LETDOROTHYGOTOTHECITYOFEMERALDS”.
Thelittleoldwomantooktheslatefromher
næse
nose
,andhavingreadthewordsonit,asked,“IsyournameDorothy,mydear?”
“Yes,”answeredthechild,lookingupanddryinghertears.
“ThenyoumustgototheCityofEmeralds.
PerhapsOzwillhelpyou.”
“Whereisthiscity?”
askedDorothy.
“Itisexactlyinthecenterofthecountry,andisruledbyOz,theGreatWizardItoldyouof.”
“Isheagoodman?”