OVERLAY REPORT

The original fairy tale *The Snow Queen* by Hans Christian Andersen and Disney’s *Frozen* share a basic premise—a journey to a frozen palace to save someone from a frozen heart—but their endings are fundamentally different in terms of character roles, the nature of the "thaw," and the fate of the Snow Queen herself. Here are the specific details regarding how the endings differ: ### 1. The Relationship: Neighbors vs. Sisters In the original tale, the two protagonists are **Gerda and Kay**, who are childhood friends and neighbors (often described as being "like" brother and sister, but not biologically related). Gerda is the hero who travels to the North to find Kay. In *Frozen*, the dynamic is changed to **Anna and Elsa**, two sisters. The ending of the movie focuses on the bond of sisterhood, whereas the book focuses on childhood innocence and Christian devotion. ### 2. The Nature of the "Frozen Heart" In Andersen’s story, Kay’s heart is frozen because of **shards of a magic mirror** created by a wicked troll. These shards enter his eye and heart, making him see everything beautiful as ugly and turning his heart to ice. The Snow Queen merely takes advantage of this state and brings him to her palace. In *Frozen*, Anna’s heart is frozen by **Elsa’s accidental magic**. It is a physical ailment that will turn her into a statue of ice unless she receives an "act of true love." ### 3. The Climax and the "Act of Love" The method of "thawing" the heart is significantly different in both versions: * **The Original:** When Gerda finds Kay in the Snow Queen's palace, he is blue with cold and nearly catatonic, trying to solve an ice puzzle. Gerda weeps, and her **warm tears** fall on his chest, penetrating his heart and melting the ice shard. Kay then weeps as well, which dislodges the shard from his eye. It is Gerda’s devotion and her tears that save him. * **Frozen:** Anna believes she needs a "true love's kiss" from a man (Kristoff or Hans). However, the climax occurs when Anna chooses to **sacrifice herself** to save Elsa from being killed by Prince Hans. Anna turns to solid ice, but this selfless act of sisterly love—her own choice to save her sister—thaws her heart. ### 4. The Role of the Snow Queen * **The Original:** The Snow Queen is a distant, somewhat antagonistic force of nature. She is not "defeated" in a traditional sense; she is simply **absent** when Gerda arrives. She has flown off to warmer lands ("the black cooking pots"), and Gerda and Kay simply walk out of her palace while she is away. * **Frozen:** Elsa *is* the Snow Queen, but she is the co-protagonist. The ending focuses on her redemption. She realizes that **love is the key** to controlling her powers. Instead of the Snow Queen being a force to flee from, Elsa uses her power to thaw the kingdom of Arendelle and remains the Queen, integrated into society. ### 5. The "Eternity" Puzzle In the original book, the Snow Queen tells Kay that if he can use pieces of ice to spell the word **"Eternity,"** he shall be his own master and she will give him the whole world and a new pair of skates. He is unable to do it until Gerda arrives. When they reunite and the ice is melted, the pieces of ice dance for joy and fall down to spell "Eternity" on their own, granting Kay his freedom. This element is entirely absent from *Frozen*. ### 6. The Return Home and Passage of Time * **The Original:** When Gerda and Kay return to their city, they realize they have **grown up** during their journey. They are now adults, but they realize they have "retained the hearts of children." The story ends on a religious note, with their grandmother reading from the Bible. * **Frozen:** The timeline is much shorter. Anna and Elsa are already young adults, and the movie ends with the kingdom restored to summer, Elsa creating a "personal flurry" for Olaf, and the sisters resuming their lives in the castle immediately after the events. ### Summary of the "Vibe" The original ending is a **spiritual and metaphorical allegory** about childhood innocence and the power of prayer/tears to wash away cynicism. The *Frozen* ending is a **subversion of fairy tale tropes**, replacing the "prince" with "sisterly love" and focusing on the protagonist's self-acceptance.