A rural family story shifts from mountain life and communal celebration to fear during a bubonic plague outbreak.
Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases
Life Before the Outbreak
Mor and Far live with their daughter and other farm workers in Jostedalen. Far prepares to take his daughter to the mountain to herd sheep.
Key Events
Farm Family Setting — Mor and Far live on a farm in Jostedalen with their daughter and other farm workers. Characters: Mor, FarLocation: The farm in Jostedalen
Life in Jostedalen — The family and farm workers are introduced as part of the rural community. Characters: Mor, FarLocation: The farm in Jostedalen
Ready to Herd Sheep — The child becomes old enough to herd the sheep on the mountain. Characters: FarLocation: The farm in Jostedalen
Journey to the Mountain — Far heads to the mountain with his daughter to herd the sheep. Characters: FarLocation: The route from the farm to the mountain
A Divided Celebration
Far and his daughter are on the mountain while a large wedding takes place at the farm. The guests enjoy the celebration and dance.
Key Events
Sheep on the Mountain — Far and his daughter are on the mountain while the sheep are being herded. Characters: FarLocation: The mountain above Jostedalen
Wedding at the Farm — A large wedding is celebrated at the farm while Far is on the mountain.
Location: The farm in Jostedalen
Guests Dance — The wedding guests have fun and dance during the celebration.
Location: The wedding celebration at the farm
Plague at the Wedding
People at the wedding suddenly become sick. The sickness is identified as bubonic plague, transforming celebration into fear.
Key Events
Sudden Illness — People at the wedding suddenly begin to become sick.
Location: The wedding celebration at the farm
Bubonic Plague Identified — The sickness is identified as bubonic plague.
Location: The farm in Jostedalen
Wedding Panic — The discovery of plague causes panic among the people at the farm.
Location: The farm in Jostedalen
The Dew Remedy
Panic spreads as people run around the farm. Believing that morning dew can heal them, they desperately try to wash themselves in it.
Key Events
People Flee — Panicked people run around in desperation after the outbreak.
Location: The farm in Jostedalen
Morning Dew Remedy — The people believe that morning dew can heal those suffering from the plague.
Location: The farm in Jostedalen
Washing in Dew — The desperate people try to wash themselves in the morning dew.
Location: The farm in Jostedalen
Desperate Healing Attempt — The dew washing becomes the community's desperate response to the plague.
Location: The farm in Jostedalen
Mountain and Farm Divide — Far remains associated with the mountain while the wedding community faces the plague at the farm. Characters: FarLocation: The mountain and the farm in Jostedalen
Story Breakdown
Jostedalen Farm Life — The story begins within a farm community in Jostedalen.
Family on Farm — Mor and Far live on the farm with their daughter and other farm workers.
Rural Community — The farm functions as the central community setting.
Mountain Herding — Far takes his daughter to the mountain when she becomes old enough to herd sheep.
New Responsibility — The child reaches the age for mountain sheep herding.
Journey Uphill — Far and his daughter head toward the mountain with the sheep.
Wedding Celebration — A large wedding takes place at the farm while Far is away on the mountain.
Guests Gather — Wedding guests assemble at the farm for the celebration.
Dancing Begins — The guests have fun and dance before the crisis starts.
Plague Emerges — The festive gathering is disrupted when people suddenly become sick.
Sudden Sickness — People at the wedding unexpectedly fall ill.
Bubonic Diagnosis — The illness is identified as bubonic plague.
Community Panic — The plague causes fear and disorder among the people at the farm.
People Run — Panicked people run around the farm.
Desperate Reaction — The community searches urgently for a way to survive the outbreak.
Morning Dew Remedy — The afflicted people turn to morning dew because they believe it can heal them.
Healing Belief — The people believe morning dew possesses healing power.
Dew Washing — They desperately try to wash themselves in the morning dew.
Maren, a young girl, is the sole survivor of the Black Death in her Norwegian village. Using instincts, folklore, luck, and the clairvoyant powers granted her by being born with a "Victory Cap," Maren survives on her own, waiting for other people to discover her plight.
