Immensee (novella)
Immensee is a novella written by the North German writer Theodor Storm in 1849. It was first published in 1849, published in Karl Leonhard Biernatzki ( 1815-1899 ) People's book on the year 1850. A second version was published in 1851 in a collection titled summer stories and songs.
Content
In the novella, an elderly gentleman recalls his unrequited love for children and youth.
The main characters Reinhard Werner and Elizabeth (no last name) are already close friends from childhood. The five years older Reinhard thrilled by Elisabeth fairy tales he wrote for them on slips of paper. He also has a vellum band in which he records his experiences in poems without Elizabeth 's knowledge.
Even at that young age Reinhard is aware that he wants to share his life with Elizabeth. Not even a new school and new boy friends change anything.
When Reinhard is seventeen years old, moves for him the moment of separation from Elizabeth getting closer, because he has to go away for training. Shortly before his departure, he promises her that he would continue to write fairy tales for them, he would then send her in the letters to his mother. She delighted, because she can not imagine a time without Reinhard. The day before his departure, gathered a large company to take advantage of Reinhard farewell. You spend the whole day together. When Reinhard returns home, he once again written a poem that he wrote in his vellum, which is already half filled.
Soon it will be Christmas Eve. Reinhard spends his time with other students in the Council's basement, where he devoted his attention to a girl that plays there along with a Geiger zither. The girl sings for him, even though it adorns initially. However, he draws the wrath of the girl on himself because he quickly rushes home because of him brought the message. There he finds a package. Excited, he considered the content. In addition to cakes and personal things, there are letters from Elisabeth and his mother. Elizabeth complains in her letter, the bird Reinhard had given her, was dead She accuses him also, he will send her any more fairy tales. He is overwhelmed by the desire to return to his homeland and written once, after a walk, letters to Elizabeth and his mother, although he did previously given away half of his cake to a beggar girl.
At Easter versa Reinhard back. Between him and Elizabeth, however, something strange came. During his absence, his old school friend Eric has taken a father's farm on Immensee. Erich has given a new bird Elisabeth. Reinhard trusts her to his parchment book and insecure Elisabeth through the many verses very dedicated to her. She hands him the book to his entreaties out with his favorite herb back. Shortly before the departure brings Reinhard at Elisabeth the promise that she would still love him even after his upcoming two-year absence. He leaves with a secret he 'll reveal on his return. After two years without any correspondence between the two Reinhard's mother tells him, Eric and Elizabeth were engaged, after Elisabeth Erich's application had been rejected twice.
Years later, the protagonist accepts an invitation from Eric at the Immensee without Elizabeth and her mother know about it. Elizabeth is excited about the arrival of Reinhard. This has put together rhymes and songs over the years, and he is asked to present some of its new folk songs. It is already evening when he recites some verses of a love drama. Distraught, Elizabeth leaves the little party. Soon after, Reinhard makes his way to the lake, where he tries to reach a floating water lily far out on the lake.
On the following afternoon he undertakes in Elizabeth accompanied a walk on the other side of the lake. The discovery of the Erika, a water lily, and the words given to Reinhard's about lost youth, Elisabeth bring tears to the eyes. Silently they head back to the boat. Reinhard can after arriving at the farm his thoughts not arrange. He decides to leave a letter and break up at dawn, but Elizabeth surprised him. She suspects his intention and the intention never to return. He breaks away from her, steps out and away from the farm.
In the late evening dusk the old man sees in the mind's eye once the water lily on the lake, which seems far and unreachable. He remembers his youth and delves back into his studies.