# Nature and the Supernatural in Short Fiction

> Theme guide for Short Fiction by Selma Lagerlöf.

Nature is deeply intertwined with human emotion and the supernatural, from the Spirit of Fasting haunting Petter Nord to the enchanted forest and glaciers in 'The Legend of Reor' and 'Old Agnete,' reflecting inner states.

## Where it surfaces

- [The Legend of the Bird's Nest](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_50_se/chapters/the-legend-of-the-bird-s-nest): The wagtails' nest-building in Hatto's hand symbolizes nature's power to soften a hardened soul and redirect divine purpose.
- [The Legend of Reor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_50_se/chapters/the-legend-of-reor): The forest is alive with longing and magic; flowers call to butterflies, a white snake guides Reor, and a giant's daughter sleeps in a hidden glade, blending natural beauty with supernatural elements.
- [Downie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_50_se/chapters/downie): Downie's vision of the bear and her deep attunement to the natural world highlight the blending of nature with supernatural elements.
- [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_50_se/chapters/ii): Downie's connection to the countryside and the feeling of 'it' coming over her like elves passing through dark woods evoke a supernatural connection to nature.
- [Among the Climbing Roses](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_50_se/chapters/among-the-climbing-roses): The chapter is a detailed observation of natural life—the bee, spider, and larva—presented with a sense of wonder and almost mythical significance, highlighting the beauty and peril inherent in the natural world.
- [On the Site of the Great Kungahälla](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_50_se/chapters/on-the-site-of-the-great-kungah-lla): Nature has reclaimed the site, with reeds, trees, and fields covering all traces of human habitation, and the mysterious stone carving hints at a supernatural or forgotten past.
- [The Forest Queen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_50_se/chapters/the-forest-queen): The primeval forest is depicted as a sacred, enchanted realm where the crew expects to encounter Pan and nymphs, blending natural awe with supernatural belief.
- [Sigrid Storräde](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_50_se/chapters/sigrid-storr-de): The early spring, trolls, mermaids, and other mythical beings accompany Sigrid's journey, blending nature with the supernatural.
- [Old Agnete](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_50_se/chapters/old-agnete): The glacier and mountain are depicted as a realm of supernatural torment for the doomed, and Agnete's ritual bridges the natural and supernatural worlds.
- [The Fisherman's Ring](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_50_se/chapters/the-fisherman-s-ring): The storm as a natural force and the supernatural battle between saints and evil spirits.
- [The Holy Night](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_50_se/chapters/the-holy-night): Miraculous events—dogs that cannot bite, a staff that turns aside, coals that do not burn—and the appearance of angels reveal the supernatural nature of the holy night.
- [The Emperor's Vision](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_50_se/chapters/the-emperor-s-vision): The entire natural world holds its breath in stillness, and angelic hosts appear in the sky, blending the natural with the miraculous.
- [The Flight Into Egypt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_50_se/chapters/the-flight-into-egypt): The palm tree, a natural element, is personified and obeys the divine child, blending the natural world with miraculous events.
- [In Nazareth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_50_se/chapters/in-nazareth): Jesus captures sunshine to paint birds and commands them to fly, blending natural elements with divine power.
- [In the Temple](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_50_se/chapters/in-the-temple): Miraculous events—the bridge ceasing to tremble and the trumpet sounding by itself—demonstrate supernatural intervention in the natural world.
- [Saint Veronica's Kerchief](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_50_se/chapters/saint-veronica-s-kerchief): The supernatural imprint of Christ's face on the cloth and the miracles attributed to it highlight the intersection of the divine and the natural world.
- [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_50_se/chapters/viii): The unnatural darkness and earthquake at the moment of Jesus's death serve as supernatural signs of divine displeasure.
- [Robin Redbreast](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_50_se/chapters/robin-redbreast): The story blends natural history (the robin's appearance) with supernatural elements (God's creation and the miraculous blood stain).
- [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_50_se/chapters/v): A bird extinguishes the flame, but its sparks are used to light the altar, interpreted as a divine sign.
- [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_50_se/chapters/iii): Helga's belief in the magical power of hearth ashes to cure homesickness and bind her to Närlunda underscores the supernatural theme.
- [The Musician](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_50_se/chapters/the-musician): The forest and the river are imbued with supernatural presence, including the Water-Sprite, and nature responds to the musician's pride.
- [The Legend of the Christmas Rose](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_50_se/chapters/the-legend-of-the-christmas-rose): The miraculous transformation of the winter forest into a blooming summer garden at the sound of Christmas bells embodies the supernatural power of faith and nature.
- [A Story from Jerusalem](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_50_se/chapters/a-story-from-jerusalem): The stranger's trance-like vision in the mosque and his dream of passing through the walled-up Golden Gate blur the line between reality and the supernatural.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_50_se/themes/nature_and_the_supernatural
- Themes index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_50_se/themes