The Shining Mountain

The fairytale is about a girl with a very

special name, Pangma-La.
In the beginning the other kids teased her
because of it, and she blamed her dad for
giving her such a name.

But it turns out that her dad named her after a

shining mountain. (Page 18, line 5: “I called
you after a shining mountain so that you
would stand tall and be proud”).

One day Pangma-La and her dad are going to the mountain to climb it. But the goddess of the
mountain appears 3 times, disguised as an old Sherpa woman, and tempts Pangma-La to let her
carry her sack, her clothes and at last her heart – every time in exchange for swan feathers. At last
she is turned into a swan, and when her father realizes his mistakes she returns to normal. (Page 22,
line 1: “At this Pangma-La’s father fell on his knees and for the first time wept hot tears like any
human”)

Pangma-La wants to get approval from her dad, and I think that’s why she let the goddess tempt
her. She does not feel that she is good enough herself, and she thinks that she needs to cheat to get
her fathers attention and approval.

The writer; Alison Fell writes in past tense, which is very characteristic of a fairytale.
I think that the story has a very strong moral, and it actually reminds me a lot of “Manhood” and
“The Death Of Tommy Grimes”. All the texts are about proving something and being good enough
for her father. The stories also have other things in common, for example the mother-father
relationship. The mother is always very protecting and against the activity. (Page 19, line 5: “Her
mother shook her head and fussed” […] “You’ll tear your good jumper. Pangma-La” she said,
“you’ll fall and hurt yourself.”).

I really admire Alison’s talent for descriptions. The ones on page 19, line 14 actually reminds me a
lot of a specific song called “Hello Seattle”, by Owl City. It’s very poetic and it painted a very
beautiful picture in my mind.

In my point of view, some of the themes in this story are of “growing up” or “accepting who you
are”.
Love is also an important fact to emphasize. (Page 22, line 6: “Pangma-La’s father looked down to
see his daughter alive and heavy and human in his arms.”)

Malou Bennedbæk, 1.c