Hans Christian Andersen Analysis

Hans Christian Andersen’s first publication was a poem in 1828, and his first prose work, a fantasy of a nightly journey titled Fodreise fra Holmens Canal til Østpynten af Amager (1829; a journey on foot from Holman’s canal to the east point of Amager), was an immediate success. He wrote six novels, of which Improvisatoren (1835; The Improvisatore, 1845) securely established his fame. His nine travel books began with En digters bazar (1842; A Poet’s Bazaar, 1846) and mainly concern his European travels. Other works are Billebog uden billeder (1840; Tales the Moon Can Tell, 1855) and I Sverrig (1851; In Sweden, 1852). His autobiographies are Levnedsbogen, 1805-1831 (1926; Diaries of Hans Christian Andersen, 1990), discovered fifty years after his death; Mit Livs Eventyr (1847; The Story of My Life, 1852); and the revised The Fairy Tale of My Life (1855). Other publications include his correspondence, diaries, notebooks and draft material, drawings, sketches, paper cuttings, and plays.

Although hailed as the greatest of all fairy-tale writers in any language, throughout most of his life, Hans Christian Andersen considered his fairy tales to be of far less importance than his other writings. He considered himself much more of a novelist, playwright, and writer of travel books. It was his fairy tales, however, that spread his fame across Europe and, immediately upon publication, were translated into every European language. Andersen was much more famous, courted, and honored abroad than in his native Denmark. In his later years, however, his compatriots did at last recognize Andersen’s greatness. He became a friend and guest to royalty, was made a state councillor, and had a touching tribute paid to him in the form of the statue of the Little Mermaid, which sits in the Copenhagen harbor.

How is Hans Christian Andersen’s extreme emotional sensitivity reflected in “The Ugly Duckling”?

In a letter to his mother, Andersen wrote: “First you go through a cruel time, and then you become famous.” This process does not always work; what caused it to work with Andersen?

How did Andersen take advantage of the nickname “the Swedish nightingale” of the famous singer Jenny Lind?

What might be gained from reading more than one translation of an Andersen story?

In injecting material for people of all ages into his stories for children, was Andersen like many writers today?

What moral lessons do you see in Andersen’s tales other than the ones pointed out at the end of his stories?

Obtain and watch the 1952 film Hans Christian Andersen. Determine how closely this filmed version resembles the facts of his life.