What is the plot of 'The Children of Lir' short story?
The 'Children of Lir' is a tragic Irish folktale. In the story, the four children of Lir are transformed into swans by their jealous stepmother. They are condemned to spend hundreds of years in this form, suffering many hardships and living through various changes in the Irish landscape. Eventually, they are redeemed when a Christian monk comes and they are able to die as humans and be reunited with their father in heaven.
The plot involves the children of Lir being turned into swans. Their stepmother uses magic to do this out of envy. These swan - children then endure long years in different places. They have to face cold winters and other difficulties. In the end, with the arrival of a new religious influence, they are released from the spell and find peace.
Well, in 'The Children of Lir' short story, the four children are victims of a cruel spell. Their stepmother, Aoife, is envious of their father Lir's love for them. So, she turns them into swans. They are forced to live as swans for 900 years, during which they experience a lot. They lose their home and are exposed to the elements. However, they keep their human minds. When the time comes, they are transformed back into humans briefly before dying and going to the afterlife.