The story is full of instances illustrating precision, energy, and
delicacy. In fact, almost any passage exemplifies the general
qualities of form and the qualities of composition. The personality of
the writer has given to the tale a poetic and dramatic charm of
simplicity. Note the precision and delicacy displayed in the opening
paragraph:--

Oeyvind was his name. A low barren cliff overhung the house
in which he was born; fir and birch looked down on the roof,
and wild cherry strewed flowers over it. Upon this roof
there walked about a little goat, which belonged to Oeyvind.
He was kept there that he might not go astray; and Oeyvind
carried leaves and grass up to him. One fine day the goat
leaped down, and away to the cliff; he went straight up and
came where he never had been before.

Energy is apparent in the following passage:--

"Is it yours, this goat?" asked the girl again.

"Yes," he said, and looked up.

"I have taken such a fancy to the goat. You will not give it
to me?"

"No, that I won't."

She lay kicking her legs and looking down at him, and then
she said, "But if I give you a butter-cake for the goat, can