The unity is maintained through the central interest of the two
Children and the goat.

The tale is characterized by fairly good mass. As the story aims to
portray a natural picture of child life, obviously it could not
maintain a style of too great solidity and force, but rather would
seek one of ease and naturalness. Mass, as shown in _Oeyvind and
Marit_, appears in the following description of Oeyvind's play with
the goat, after he first realized its return:--

He jumped up, took it by the two fore-legs, and danced with
it as if it were a brother; he pulled its beard, and he was
just going in to his mother with it, when he heard someone
behind him; and looking, saw the girl sitting on the
greensward by his side. Now he understood it all, and let go
the goat.

The story of child-friendship is told in distinct little episodes
which naturally connect. That unmistakable relation of the parts which
is essential to coherence, appears in the following outline of the
story:--

1. A new acquaintance; Oeyvind and Marit meet. The exchange of a
goat for a cake. The departure of the goat. Marit sings to the
goat. The return of the goat. Marit accompanies the goat.

2. New interests. The stories of what the animals say, told to
Oeyvind by his Mother. The first day of school.