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Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875) was a renowned Danish writer. Although he wrote numerous plays, stories, autobiographies, and travelogues, he is most famous for writing over 156 fairy tales in his lifetime. His original tales include The Ugly Duckling, The Little Mermaid, and many others.
Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875) was a Danish writer who wrote mountains of plays, travelogues, and stories in his lifetime, but his name is most synonymous with his literary fairy tales. Unlike other writers associated with folktales at the time, such as gentlemen like the Brothers Grimm or Charles Perrault, he was renowned for writing his own stories. Over the course of his lifetime, he wrote over 156 fairy tales across 9 different volumes. His most famous fairy tales include classics such as The Ugly Duckling, The Little Mermaid, Thumbelina,The Princess and the Pea, and The Emperor’s New Clothes. His stories are now considered to be part of the collective consciousness, and are an important part of children’s cultural capital.
Hans Christian Andersen was born in Odense, Denmark, in 1805. His father, also called Hans, was a cobbler. His mother, Anne Marie Anderstatter, was an illiterate laundress. Although the family struggled financially, both of Andersen’s parents doted on him, and his father in particular is attributed with introducing him to literature by reading him the Arabian tales of A Thousand and One Nights.
The Andersen family were impoverished and lived a hand-to-mouth existence, something Andersen carried with him throughout his life. Andersen was shy as a child, and utterly fascinated with the theatre. He often shunned the company of other children to play with puppets or write plays. He attended school, but for the poorer families in the area. He recounts in one of the 4 autobiographies that he wrote in his lifetime, This is the True Story of my Life, that his grandmother worked in a psychiatric hospital, where he heard folktales from the ladies in the spinning room.
When his father died in 1816, his mother had no choice but to send him to work against his will. When he was 11, he worked in factories. One of those was a tobacco factory, which is said to have caused him lung damage. After this, he was allowed to stay at home in order to make money from singing in the homes of well-off families. He was known as the ‘little nightingale of Odense’ on account of his beautiful singing voice. This was Andersen’s first taste of high society, as he was invited into the living rooms of the wealthy to perform and entertain.
When he was 14, he urged his mother, a superstitious woman, to go to a fortune-teller. The fortune-teller told Anne Marie that her son was to be famous around the world, which fuelled Andersen’s ambitions to be a ‘great artist’. After this, he set off for Copenhagen. Between 1819-1822, a 14-year-old Andersen pursued a vocation on the stage, and was admirably determined to make a career for himself in the theatre. This was despite the fact that most successful artists came from social privilege (which Andersen certainly did not). For around 3 years, he attended multiple auditions without much success. He did manage to perform in The Royal Theatre, where he was recognised for his soprano voice (although his voice was to change as he got older). He was eventually spotted by Jonas Collin, a director on the board, who would become his benefactor and father figure for the rest of his life. Collin, wishing for a young Andersen to have a more formal education, sent him to a school at Slagelse. Andersen, having been years behind everyone else and a good 6 years older, called these the ‘darkest years of his life’.
Although Andersen worked ferociously on his writing and artistic style within these years, it’s said he suffered greatly at the draconian measures inflicted by the headmaster. He would regularly punish Andersen in order to ‘improve his character’. The headmaster strictly forbade creative pursuits like writing, which crushed young Andersen’s spirit. By 1826, Andersen had moved to a school in Helsingør to complete his studies. In 1828, he passed his final exam, and by this point he was already making himself known as a writer. He had a published book of poetry, had produced a play, and written a travelogue. By 1832, a decade after he had moved to Copenhagen, he was being acknowledged by high society for his skills in writing. In 1833, he had received a travel grant from the King, and spent the next 5 years travelling widely, writing prolifically, and meeting many of the great writers of the time.
Hans Christian Andersen started writing fairy tales when he was 29. There were 3 instalments of Andersen’s fairy tales for children published between the years of 1835 and 1837. Included in the collection were originals such as Thumbelinaand The Little Mermaid, with the latter making his name in Denmark. Although well-known, and fast becoming a Danish household name, many critics weren’t entirely impressed with Andersen’s style. Some reviews were scathing about its informal tone, and the lack of explicit morals. There were 9 volumes of this work published in Andersen’s lifetime, which contained over 156 original fairy tales.
It’s hard to comprehend just how sensational these tales were in the times that Andersen wrote them. They were revolutionary, and unlike anything that Denmark had seen before. Unlike other collectors of fairy tales, like the Brothers Grimm, Andersen simply used the orally told Danish folktales as a starting point, and then let his imagination run in a happy riot. This was all whilst keeping the folkloric style of lyricism and tropes. They were innovative, too, because across Europe, children’s literature was fashionably pious. It had strict moral messages instead of writing for joyous entertainment. Anderson's tales spoke to children’s sentiments directly. He wrote anguish and humour into his tales, delighting children and adults alike.
So, who was Hans Christian Andersen, really? What was he like? Although he was celebrated in his lifetime, and beloved by Europe at large (probably more so than his native Denmark), he still considered himself to be an ‘outsider’. He believed himself to be socially awkward, shy, and lonely. This self-mythology is perpetuated throughout his journals and personal correspondence. He never married, and despite his impressive 'rags-to-riches' kind of story, he seemed to be immensely aware of his poverty-stricken upbringing. In 1844, he wrote:
“Twenty-five years ago… I arrived with my small parcel in Copenhagen, a poor stranger of a boy, and today I have drunk chocolate with the Queen, sitting opposite her and the King at the table.”
Even at home with the Colin’s family, who were generous in their care and financial support, it always felt as if Andersen didn’t quite belong. Even when he was world-famous, he was still acutely aware that he was not to forget that he was just a cobbler’s son from Odense. In saying this though, it’s also apparent in his personal writings just how ambitious he actually was, and he was always determined to be famous. In many ways, he got his wish, as although he was treated somewhat suspiciously in his time in Denmark, he is now considered to be a national treasure. Like a fairy tale in itself, he succeeded in turning straw to gold in an alchemical magic of his perseverance, self-belief, and determination.
Andersen was notoriously tall and gawky, with a characteristically prominent nose (which we think looks rather magnificent!). His tales are thought to have reflected his own self-image, and explored his sense of never quite belonging. His stories also reflect his upbringing, and often portray folk that are down on their luck, with their fortunes suddenly reversed. Andersen’s sense of alienation in the world is also attributed to the fact that although he travelled Europe widely in his time, he wasn’t fluent in English. This contributed to his reputation of being naive and child-like within social settings. It’s apparent that Andersen worked hard to become the celebrated writer that he eventually became, and he was forever obsessed and determined with making a name for himself that stood the test of time. His works are considered by some to be reflective of his own self-image, as they depicted the class divide and struggles of the times.
There’s a recurring question that resonates about the stories we tell our children. Are they there to educate and impart lessons about life? Or, is their function to delight and entertain our little ones as they navigate through this new and complex world? Fairy tales like Andersen’s are so enduring because they strike a balance of both. They can be read from a historical context, and reflect the beliefs and values of the time in which they were written. This is whilst also holding ‘universal truths’ about human nature and societal structures of power.
Children need good stories. Stories that delight and horrify, as we are led on a journey with the characters. Andersen’s stories can raise important questions for our children about the complexities of life, ideas about morality, and the concept of right and wrong. They also help to build resilience, and remind us that no matter what life throws at us, we have the courage to persevere. Our fortunes really can change in the blink of an eye! Not only that, but the simple characterisation, plot and story structures are perfect to capture children’s imaginations. They hold their attention, and can often be children’s first introductions to literary concepts. They're the perfect vehicles to help develop early literacy skills in spelling, punctuation, syntax, and storytelling.
Here at Twinkl, all our resources are created by qualified practitioners, teachers, and early years specialists. Our resources are designed to be fun, engaging, and effective at helping your little ones reach their learning aims. If you’re immersing your kiddos in these beloved classics, have a browse through our activities below, based on Hans Christian Andersen fairy tales.
The Little Mermaid is the tale that made Anderson into a household name, particularly in Germany and Europe. The Hans Christian Andersen version is fairly different to the Disney one, with a darker twist, but ultimately a happy ending. If you’d like a summary of this ethereal story, have a nosey through our fabulous Little Mermaid eBook for a refresher.
Try this Sirenetta and the Air Fairies Colouring Sheet. Colouring is a great activity to help develop fine motor skills, and cultivate a little mindfulness in the creative process.
Or, this Little Mermaid Resource Pack is bursting with oodles of activities to keep your little ones entertained for hours. Develop early literacy and maths skills with our range of worksheets, word mats, stick puppets, and display materials.
This beloved story is a remarkable tale that encourages discussion on acceptance, bullying, difference, and belonging. If you’d like to read this transformational story, you can do so here with our beautifully illustrated eBook. The story is told in accessible language, which is perfect for early learners.
Check out our Ugly Duckling Story Sack, too. It has everything you need to familiarise children with this classic, such as colouring sheets, word cards, and so much more!
If you are covering the topic of fairytales, then these brilliant resources are for you. Have a gander to see what fits your needs, and simply download for your little ones.
If you are creating a display for this topic, then you can grab this Display Banner to pop above your info board.
You might also want to have a look at this Introduction to Fairytales PowerPoint, and use it as a gateway into all the magic!
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