Here is a classic Christmas poem in its English and German versions for you. Get more information about it here:
http://german.about.com/library/blkaestner_nikolaus.htm
Read the poem and answer the questions below!
ENGLISH
A Visit from St. Nicholas
by Henry Livingston, Jr. (1823)*
'Twas the night before Christmas, when all
through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even
a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the
chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would
be there.
The children were nestled all snug
in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced
in their heads.
And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in
my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long
winter's nap.
When out on the lawn there arose
such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what
was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like
a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up
the sash.
The moon on the breast of the
new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to
objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes
should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight
tiny reindeer.
With a little old driver, so lively
and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be
St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers
they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called
them by name!
"Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer
and Vixen!
On, Comet! on, Cupid! on,
Donner
and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of
the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash
away all!"
As dry leaves that before the wild
hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount
to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers
they flew,
With the sleigh full of toys, and St.
Nicholas too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on
the roof
The prancing and pawing of each
little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was
turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with
a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head
to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with
ashes and soot.
A bundle of toys he had flung
on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just
opening his pack.
His eyes - how they twinkled! his dimples
how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like
a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like
a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white
as the snow.
The stump of a pipe he held tight in
his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head
like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little
round belly
That shook when he laughed, like a
bowlful of jelly!
He was chubby and plump, a right
jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite
of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of
his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing
to dread.
He spoke not a word, but went straight
to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned
with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of
his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney
he rose!
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team
gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down
of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove
out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all
a good-night!"
DEUTSCH
Als der Nikolaus kam
German by Erich Kästner (1947)
In der Nacht vor dem Christfest, da regte
im Haus
sich niemand und nichts, nicht mal
eine Maus.
Die Strümpfe, die hingen paarweis
am Kamin
und warteten drauf, daß Sankt Niklas
erschien.
Die Kinder lagen gekuschelt
im Bett
und träumten vom Äpfel- und
Nüsseballett.
Die Mutter schlief tief, und auch ich
schlief brav,
wie die Murmeltiere im
Winterschlaf,
als draußen vorm Hause ein
Lärm losbrach,
daß ich aufsprang und dachte: Siehst
rasch einmal nach!
Ich rannte zum Fenster und, fast noch
im Lauf,
stieß ich die knarrenden
Läden auf.
Es hatte geschneit, und der
Mondschein lag
so silbern auf allem, als sei's
heller Tag.
Acht winzige Renntierchen kamen
gerannt,
vor einen ganz, ganz kleinen Schlitten
gespannt!
Auf dem Bock saß ein Kutscher, so alt
und so klein,
daß ich wußte, das kann nur der
Nikolaus sein!
Die Renntiere kamen daher wie
der Wind,
und der Alte, der pfiff, und er rief
laut: "Geschwind!
Renn, Renner! Tanz, Tänzer! Flieg,
fliegende Hitz'!
Hui, Sternschnupp'! Hui, Liebling! Hui,
Donner und Blitz!
Die Veranda hinauf und die
Hauswand hinan!
Immer fort mit euch! Fort mit euch! Hui,
mein Gespann!"
Wie das Laub, das der Herbststurm die
Straßen lang fegt
und, steht was im Weg, in den Himmel
hoch trägt,
so trug es den Schlitten hin auf
unser Haus
samt dem Spielzeug und samt dem
Sankt Nikolaus!
Kaum war das geschehen, vernahm ich
schon schwach
das Stampfen der zierlichen Hufe
vom Dach.
Dann wollt' ich die Fensterläden
zuzieh'n,
da plumpste der Nikolaus in den
Kamin!
Sein Rock war aus Pelzwerk, vom Kopf
bis zum Fuß.
Jetzt klebte er freilich voll
Asche und Ruß.
Sein Bündel trug Nikolaus
huckepack,
so wie die Hausierer bei uns
ihren Sack.
Zwei Grübchen, wie lustig! Wie blitzte
sein Blick!
Die Bäckchen zartrosa, die Nas' rot
und dick!
Der Bart war schneeweiß, und der
drollige Mund
sah aus wie gemalt, so klein und
halbrund.
Im Munde, da qualmte ein
Pfeifenkopf,
und der Rauch, der umwand wie ein
Kranz seinen Schopf.
--- [
Kästner apparently chose not... --
---
...to translate these two lines.] --
Ich lachte hell, wie er so vor
mir stand,
ein rundlicher Zwerg aus dem
Elfenland.
Er schaute mich an und schnitt
ein Gesicht,
als wollte er sagen: "Nun, fürchte
dich nicht!"
Das Spielzeug stopfte er, eifrig
und stumm,
in die Strümpfe, war fertig, drehte
sich um,
hob den Finger zur Nase, nickte
mir zu,
kroch in den Kamin und war fort
im Nu!
In den Schlitten sprang er und pfiff
dem Gespann,
da flogen sie schon über Täler
und Tann.
Doch ich hört' ihn noch rufen, von fern
klang es sacht:
"Frohe Weihnachten allen, - und allen
gut' Nacht!"
Questions:
1. Do you know the English or German version of this poem?
2. Were there some new words for you in the English version? Send us a list!
3. Can you write a short summary of the story? Write a few sentences about the story and send it to us!
Send us your answers to tutor@virtualingua.de! If you are already a student with us, do this as an extra tutored exercise, if not, you can send us your answers and test our tutoring for free. Your answers will be checked by a qualified English native speaker tutor and you will get a personal reply with corrections, suggestions for improving your English and learning tips!
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!
