Why are Andersen's fairy tales so cruel and sad? Why do Andersen's fairy tales have such scary stories? Do fairy tales teach?

Everyone in the world has been familiar with Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875) for a long time! His books are read in childhood, re-read at school, and bought for their children. It is no coincidence that Andersen is called a kind dreamer.

Life was too difficult for him; he had to overcome the callousness and indifference of those around him. He heard terrible prophecies from the teacher: “Nothing good will come of you! You are going to start scribbling paper, but no one will read your writings. They will be bought for waste paper...” - and he did not despair, he continued to dream. And it’s good that the teacher was wrong about him. Who now remembers the name of this teacher? And his student from a poor neighborhood, the son of a shoemaker, is known and loved!

Wooden shoes, homemade toys, cardboard figures, old theater posters - that’s all his wealth. He played tricks on himself, was a prince and a brave knight, went into battle with injustice and cruelty and always won. Let them laugh at him, let them tease him, let him call him a dreamer. He will grow up and prove that being a dreamer is not at all funny. What fairy tale do you remember? That's right, The Ugly Duckling!

The writer's tales are based on life subtext. But the main thing that is in each of them is compassion, devotion, courage, kindness, love. Andersen's fairy tales have a double meaning that only adults can fully understand.

Gennady Tsyferov’s book “My Andersen” is interesting and instructive. In it, he talks about his understanding of the works of the Danish storyteller, draws attention to individual facts from his life, and finds connections between the concept and significant details of the most famous fairy tales. Useful reading for attentive readers!

Gennady Tsyferov

My Andersen

Telling Andersen's biography is probably not so difficult: he was the son of a washerwoman and a shoemaker. He studied at public expense in a gymnasium, worked as a weaver, served in the theater, became a celebrity, and when he was buried, the king himself and a whole crowd of brilliant princesses and princes walked behind the coffin.

But much has already been written about this. I want to tell you about something else. Andersen wrote fairy tales, but what is their story?

TIN SOLDIER

When I first read this story as a child, I cried. The steadfast tin soldier died in the fire. “Ah,” I thought, “could it really be impossible to make the tin soldier live peacefully to old age, so that he could grow a beard in rings? In the morning, when he went outside, the wind would touch his beard, and it would ring. And the butterflies would dance around, and the soldier himself would serve music and be consoled.”

But he died inconsolable.

Maybe Andersen didn't love his little soldier?

No, the matter is completely different.

Dust and sparkling, then the star regiments of the imperial grenadiers walked through the streets, and everyone shouted “Hurray” to them.

Adults also love to play. And garlands of buttons, and crimson collars, and small epaulettes, like the sun! Well, what could be more fun than this?!

And only one person in the city was silent - the old shoemaker Andersen. He didn't like buffoonery. He always drowned out the beat of military drums with the sound of his hammer. And the louder the drum beat, the harder the shoemaker knocked.

But no matter how hard he worked, the family could not make ends meet - there was always not enough money. And then, waving his hand, he became a soldier. The shoemaker did this instead of some rich man, and he generously paid him.

It's sad, but what can you do? Even if Andersen's father repaired all the boots in the city, he would not receive that much.

And so the shoemaker became a grenadier. Only that grenadier was not shouted “hurray” at all.

The tall fur hat, the pride of the brilliant guardsman, was always in his eyes, and in the rain he simply looked like a scarecrow. And the regiment often laughed at him: “What a soldier!” But the battle broke out, and the laughter ended.

In battle, that little soldier stood steadfastly and straight, like the staff of a regimental banner. And, probably, he would have received an award for such bravery. But the emperor lost the war, and the imperial soldier lost his life.

Andersen returned from his last campaign completely ill, and soon died, without having time to repair the last soldier’s boot. They buried him in those torn boots. They buried him on the high Yura, and they say that instead of a banner, his wife covered it with a black scarf...

So that's why Andersen wrote this fairy tale. She is the eternal memory of her father, the last wreath on his grave.

But today even the marshals envy that soldier. The story about him is so beautiful and kind.

GIRL WITH MATCHES

Someone said: our heart is like an enchanted chest - both evil and good lie side by side. May be...

But I'll tell you what. This was in Copenhagen. That day one girl was selling matches:

Buy it, sir! Buy it please!

But neither a quiet “please”, nor a trembling hand - nothing could help her. People didn't want to stop.

The snow crunched underfoot, the frost-covered trees looked like ancient wigs, and the timid girl, like a thin candle, still stood on the corner. And suddenly, chilled, her voice broke, like a fragile New Year's ball. And then, as if hearing that sound, someone carefully put his hand on her shoulder: “Take it, please,” he said in the voice of a prince. And the dream itself, a precious coin, fell into her palm.

Probably, this is where the Christmas tale should have ended, but, unfortunately, the girl looked up - on the prince’s neck, instead of a shiny, sparkling muffler... there was an old towel. And the saddened girl returned the coin to him.

“You are kind, but I can’t do the last five,” she whispered. That's it. It remains to add that that prince was young Andersen. And years later he wrote a fairy tale.

In that fairy tale, the girl died, but the storyteller could not do otherwise. As before, the poor children, like thin candles, stood in the streets. And good Andersen knew: if they went out, Copenhagen would become dark and sad.

That's why he wrote a fairy tale with a sad ending. After all, only sad things make callous people kinder.

Thumbelina

Christian Andersen has a wonderful fairy tale about Thumbelina. Many people know the fairy tale, but few people guess why Andersen wrote it.

So listen...

In Denmark, all little people are children, and Andersen himself was once a child. He wore a velvet jacket, a velvet hat, and velvet trousers with straps. He also loved to sing and measured his height every spring. Standing on tiptoes, the boy leaned against the door frame, and his mother made a new notch. The nicks grew, and the parents rejoiced: “How the child has stretched out over the winter. Just think!”

But one day, looking at the notch, the mother suddenly gasped: “God! Yes, if this continues, we will have to cut a hole in the ceiling. Our house is too small for such a giant!”

Christian became sad after his mother’s words. Now all he could think about was how to become smaller.

And when the snow melted and the streams woke up, the shoemaker Andersen put down his hammer and called his son: “Shouldn’t we go to the field?”

Flowers, flowers, flowers... Their light scent intoxicated her head, and she spun like a fairground carousel, that carousel that at first slowly and smoothly, as in an ancient dance, and then spins faster and faster to the sounds of an invisible barrel organ and ringing silver bells

And then, then Hans suddenly noticed: a stuffed bumblebee was slowly crawling out of a large scarlet bud. The bumblebee hums and the flower sways slightly, like a fairy rattle.

Dad, dad! - Christian was surprised. - Do they live there?

Yes,” the father nodded indifferently. - Didn't you know?

No, the son did not know about this at all.

How nice it is to become small and live in a flower bud! And all the poor children who have nowhere to live will also become small and live together, like golden bumblebees, like little elves - princes of flowers. All day long the elves fight on the rays of the sun - their toy swords. But these solar swords do not hurt anyone. Barely touching the heart, they tickle the elves and make them laugh. The elves laugh, laugh tenderly and loudly, like carnival bells...

Oh, if only this could really happen!

But in fact, Andersen grew up big. That's why he wrote "Thumbelina." After all, Thumbelina is just a dream of a very poor childhood.

I told you three sad stories. And you probably thought: this Andersen is a sad man!

So know this: this is what they wrote about him a hundred years ago: “In Denmark, no one knows how to smile like Andersen.”

And in his fairy tales, you also always feel this bright smile.

Well, remember at least “Ognivo” - a fairy tale about a soldier and three dogs.

A long time ago, in the city of Copenhagen, King Christian IV built a round tower. And from then on, this tower stood on the main city square.

She looked solemnly and sternly at the small Copenhagen houses, and they shyly huddled in the corners of the square, afraid to approach. And in fact, how could at least one of them compare with the majestic tower?! Almost all the tiled roofs of Copenhagen buildings looked like grandmother's caps. And only the round tower was crowned with something similar to a knight’s helmet. But it has long been known that everything lofty and knightly inspires respect.

Therefore, not only at home, but also all the inhabitants of Copenhagen were proud of their stone bulk. And only one circumstance confused them...

Every worthy tower has its own dark legends. But what could the Copenhageners tell about theirs?

In 1716, for example, Russian Tsar Peter I rode onto the tower on horseback.

Is this funny? It's beautiful.

But where are the dark events?

Time passed, water flowed in the canals, but the long-awaited events did not take place.

And then the Copenhagen people bowed to the storyteller.

“Dear Mr. Andersen,” said the residents of Copenhagen, “we kindly ask you to invent something gloomy about our round tower.”

Andersen, of course, really wanted to help his hometown.

Om very much loved his city, bent over the water of the canals, his little Copenhagen.

Andersen looked at him, and it seemed to him that the city was quietly dozing, waiting for something, dreaming about something... Maybe about the time when he would become big, famous and bring glory to his country, his people? .

But no matter how hard Andersen tried to compose a terrible legend, gloomy thoughts never came to mind.

And ambitious fellow citizens hurried: “When? When?!”

And finally, Andersen made up his mind.

He wrote a fairy tale for a long, long time. However, when I finished, I was quite surprised. There was not a word about the tower or Copenhagen itself.

“What should I do?” - Andersen thought. I thought and suddenly burst out laughing: “What if you compare the eyes of a dog with a tower? True, it’s absurd, but it’s so unexpected and involuntarily remembered by everyone.”

And the great storyteller did just that.

Then the Copenhageners were very offended.

But now... Now everyone knows about that round tower that looks like a dog's eye.

And if someone comes to Copenhagen, the first thing they do is go to the square to look at this miracle.

So this is what Andersen did with his fairy tale. He not only glorified the tower, but also surprised people for a whole century!

ANDERSEN DOLLAR

They usually say: Andersen died a poor man. But this is a little different. And even completely wrong. After his death, a dollar remained.

Very little, you say. But today many Copenhagen city leaders say that we would give all our millions for an Andersen dollar.

Weirdos?! Oh no!

Better listen. Sad Andersen always had a hard time living. And one winter it was so bad that he couldn’t even leave the house - he didn’t have a coat.

And the storyteller got angry:

“What is the world like? - he thought. - I give him fairy tales, I give him joy, but he, he doesn’t even want to give me an old coat. Or maybe this is payment for a joke. I recently wrote about the naked king. And now I, too, am an almost naked storyteller. Naked storyteller...” Andersen repeated this word again and suddenly laughed.

Great celebration. So great that all the onlookers of Copenhagen gathered in the square. With their mouths open in curiosity, like the muzzles of small cannons, they stand on tiptoe and ask: “What, what’s there?”

And there, under the loud brass of the orchestra, they lay a heavy wreath on Andersen’s brow. Thin poets, stretching out their goose necks, mutter verses of praise. And the fat ministers make pompous speeches: “Our Andersen is the glory of Denmark!..”

And Andersen laughed again. He laughed like that until the evening.

And passersby began to stop on the street and also smile for unknown reasons. And by nightfall, the whole of Copenhagen was probably laughing.

But in the evening, a bell suddenly rang in the storyteller’s house, and the solemn postman handed over a letter.

The bistro writer opened the envelope and... blushed. There was a dollar in his palm.

Yes, this is alms! Exhausted, he sank onto a chair and... suddenly noticed. A small piece of paper, covered in a child's handwriting, fell out of the envelope.

So, does this mean that the dollar is not at all the alms of a king, count, or lord? No no! Just one boy from America sent him his savings.

And the last cloud left Andersen’s face. He smiled. Well, maybe there is no coat, but there is love and a miracle!

That's why all the rich people in Copenhagen are jealous of Andersen today. They have millions of dollars, but they don’t have that kind of money.

Of course, it is difficult at first to understand what Andersen really was like. And what kind of fairy tales he wrote...

Do you know, for example, how bells are played? A drop of silver must be added to each bell. So it rings...

If you add a drop of pure sadness to a funny fairy tale, it will also ring.

Every time after Andersen’s fairy tale, you seem to hear a ringing, long and timid. Then you can even forget what it is about, but the timid ringing will forever remain in your heart.

And if someday good memories touch our heart, it will replace it again, and you will again remember your Andersen.

That is why his fairy tales cannot be divided into sad and funny - they are all simply beautiful. The flowers are so beautiful, the trees are beautiful, our distant childhood life is beautiful.

UGLY DUCKLING

They say that a gentle fairy tale should have a beautiful name. Andersen called one of his best fairy tales “The Ugly Duckling.” And yet, there is nothing more beautiful in the world than her. For a whole century people have been crying over her with joy and grief.

Let us thank Hans Christian Andersen for it and try to find out the history of its creation. It's simple.

Once upon a time, a Danish storyteller was asked to write an autobiography. Namely: why he became a storyteller. Andersen suffered for a long time, biting his pen. He didn't know where to start. And so, when he probably bit his feather for the hundredth time, that distant, distant phrase finally came: “ugly duckling.” That's what someone called him in childhood. This is where it all started.

Yes, yes, then little Andersen had a long nose. And his ears looked like little wings. Mother, however, was not very upset: just think, if she had some intelligence in her head. But the neighbors, neighbors thought something completely different. And little Andersen often cried, and then suddenly began to dream out of resentment...

He usually did this at dusk. Then everything grew quiet and silent. And every sound was full of hidden meaning. And it was as if he was telling him: “Take comfort.” Whatever happens, he will certainly grow up to be a handsome prince: a crimson cloak, velvet boots, and most importantly, most importantly, he will have a normal nose and normal ears.

You ask: what good are our childhood dreams? Over time, they fly away like autumn leaves.

However, those trembling leaves did not fly off. No no! The adult Andersen wrote amazing fairy tales. Birds talked there, trees laughed, flowers danced, and ugly people could change their noses and ears every time on holidays!

And it was invented so easily and skillfully that everyone admired it.

“How touching this Andersen is,” people began to say.

And from then on he was seen only as he saw himself in that fairy tale: a beautiful swan.

So this is the parable of the ugly duckling. She is like a magic mirror in a silver frame. Once you look into it, everything will change for the better.

This fairy tale is one of the kindest and purest hopes.

So shine forever, mirror! And let your tears falling on him become kind flowers!

LIGHT EARTH

Now I just have to say the hardest thing. Talk about Andersen's death. But it’s probably better to remember a fairy tale.

There was once an ancient country. And a blind singer walked through that country. Everywhere he sang his songs and walked further, further... Adults, meeting him, bowed, and children asked: “Who are you?”

And not wanting to scare them, he answered: “I am a man with my eyes closed.”

But the children asked again: “Why are you knocking with a stick?” And smiling, the blind man answered them: “I’m looking for light soil where I can plant my flowers.”

And when the blind singer died, the whole country cried. And only the children said: “What are you talking about, he just found easy land where he can plant flowers.”

And for a whole century later roses bloomed on that land. And a thousand years later, Andersen came to that country and found a beautiful rose. He wrote a fairy tale about that rose...

Now on Andersen's land, on a small hill, roses are also blooming.

And the children of Copenhagen say: “No, no, he didn’t die, he just found easy ground.”

Yes, great poets and storytellers never die! They simply find light soil to plant flowers there.

Literature

Tsyferov G. My Andersen. - M.: Malysh, 1969.

Alekseev N. A Tale of Tales (To the 200th anniversary of the birth of G.-H. Andrsen) / Pioneer. - 2005. - No. 4. - P. 10-12.

A children's fairy tale is a fascinating introduction to the world around us, the system of human values ​​and the entertaining characters. A child brought up on fairy tales from an early age has a wild imagination and creative imagination, and has the concept of humanity and kindness towards people and animals. Therefore, the benefits of fairy tales for children are undeniable.

The enchanting world of fairy tales is represented by fantastic stories of various peoples of the world. Children listen to the sad Russian story about the gullible Kolobok or the English tale about the confrontation between the wolf and the three little pigs with extraordinary delight. However, the wonderful fairy tales of Hans Christian Andersen occupy a special place on the fabulous Olympus.

How did the creations of the brilliant storyteller originate?

The master of fairy tales, Hans Christian Andersen, grew up in the Danish town of Odense. The Danish young man's dream was to act on stage and recite poetry, but he immortalized his name precisely thanks to his writing talent. The literary fairy tale owes its appearance to this man. Published in the 19th century, Andersen's fairy tales captivated all young readers without exception.

Memories from childhood formed the basis for the plot lines of Andersen's magical stories. Everyone's favorite characters in his fairy tales are ordinary animals, such as cats, dogs or chickens; kitchen utensils; simple flowers and plants glistening under the rays of the sun on the forest edge. But these are the simple heroes that kids wait for before going to bed. His fairy tales for children are fascinating. It’s not without reason that hundreds of cartoons have been made around the world based on Andersen’s children’s works. And parents begin reading Andersen’s fairy tales to children very early.

Why should children read Andersen's fairy tales?

As you know, children do not tolerate monotony, so it is not so easy to captivate them with a book. However, all of Andersen's fairy tales have a unique, non-repetitive plot, which arouses delight and great interest among children. From the pages of Andersen's books, a child always learns something previously unknown and at the same time exciting and fascinating. At the same time, he acquires versatility of thinking and vivid imagination. So, after reading Andersen's fairy tale "The Nightingale", why not delve deeper into thoughts about China. Or tell your child about Denmark, answering his inexhaustible questions, after getting acquainted with the wonderful story of “Galoshes of Happiness”. And the world-famous “Snow Queen” in the imagination of children seems to be an action-packed adventure story, the outcome of which they eagerly await. The reason for this is the author’s system of vivid and unique images.

Another characteristic feature of Andersen’s fairy tales is the almost complete absence of violence and cruelty in them, with the exception of two episodes: the kidnapping of Thumbelina and the possible execution of the Soldier in “Flint.” Andersen's fairy-tale stories are imbued with wisdom and kindness, even if, at times, their ending is sad ("The Little Mermaid").

However, to appreciate Andersen's fairy tales, first of all, follows the writer's desire to reach the very hearts of young readers.

Spiritual and moral education of children through Andersen's fairy tales

The meaning of each Andersen fairy tale is very deep, and the themes of the stories are extensive. Below are the main themes of his children's works.

1) Humanity, heroism and selflessness.

Fairy tales such as “Wild Swans” and “The Snow Queen” are dedicated to these strong qualities. Thus, Gerda’s courage and unquenchable faith in the person inspires only admiration.

2) The immeasurable power of love.

This is what motivates little Gerda, the Little Mermaid, and the steadfast tin soldier. Love in Andersen's fairy tales is a feeling that can overcome the bitterness of separation and all the difficulties that arise along the way.

3) The meaning of life and art.

This theme is vividly represented in several of the writer’s fairy tales: “Flax”, “Tallow Candle”, “The Last Dream of the Old Oak”.

4) Compassion and mercy.

The sensitivity of Gerda's heart helped to cope with evil and envy, greed and indifference.

5) The ability to appreciate and love life.

Thus, in the fairy tale “The Nightingale,” a living nightingale was more desirable than an artificial bird, because it was a real bird that could cure the emperor.

Many parents doubt the need to read Andersen's fairy tales to children. Their hesitation is caused by the sad endings of some of the writer’s stories, as well as the presence of the theme of death in fairy tales. But the main thing Andersen strives for in such stories is to show that his actions and actions during life are of great importance for a person, they remain forever in memory, even after the person passes away.

Thus, children should read Andersen’s fairy tales, but always remember that some of the writer’s creations are addressed to older children and adults. Therefore, it is better to approach this issue thoughtfully and choose Andersen’s fairy tales, taking into account the child’s age (as a rule, it is better to start introducing Andersen’s fairy-tale world to children who have reached the age of five). The writer's children's fairy tales will become a worthy guide to the fascinating world of literary masterpieces.

Composition

Under the pen of Andersen, fairy tales appeared with a double addressee: a fascinating plot for children, and depth of content for adults. This gave them a special naivety and spontaneity, close to children, and at the same time created a second, “subtextual” philosophical plan, which is inaccessible to children, but reflects the specifics of modern life, helping adults to comprehend it. “The Nightingale” developed the ideas of “The Swineherd” at a higher level - about the true, “real” in human life and about supposed values. The romantic theme of the confrontation between the artist and the tradesman is fully revealed in “The Ugly Duckling,” a work that can be perceived both as a fairy tale for children and as the life story of a poet who seems alien and worthless in the world of pragmatic souls.

Andersen would later call the poet Elenschläger, the sculptor Thorvaldsen, and the scientists Oersted and his brother swans. “The Christmas Tree” is also a fairy tale with two recipients. Her idea is to neglect one’s natural destiny, dream about the extraordinary and overestimate one’s capabilities. This theme was also heard in the fairy tales of the first collections, for example in “The Garden of Eden.” But now Andersen deepens it and presents it more concentrated and at the same time simpler. Andersen draws the reader's attention to the fact that dreams are different. A ghostly dream that does not take into account the capabilities of the individual destroys it. Andersen's most significant philosophical work is the fairy tale "The Shadow". The theme of shadows and doubles was constantly used by the romantics to embody the extrapersonal principle that depresses a person.

A similar oppression occurs in Andersen when a shadow replaces the scientist and forces him to serve her. But Andersen draws attention to the origins of the phenomenon: a bearer of high spirituality, the scientist himself took the first step towards his fall. He separated his shadow from himself and sent it to a neighboring house for the sake of philistine curiosity, so the reason for his death lay in himself. Denial of oneself even in the least threatens, according to Andersen, with innumerable troubles and death. It is no coincidence that, because of this, the initially rather neutral shadow later performs the functions of an ominous double, free in its actions. This is a fairy tale for adults.

One of the masterpieces of the 40s was “The Snow Queen”. It organically combines everyday life and fantasy, it is all permeated with the writer’s great love for people, and his soft irony about the world, his love for the beauty of the harsh northern nature. The world is spiritual in this fairy tale: a deer thinks and feels, old crows help Gerda. This fairy tale includes Andersen's memories of his poor childhood: the garden in the attics of Kai and Gerda is the garden of his childhood. But the main idea of ​​the work, which ensured his immortality, is the affirmation of activity and the power of good. Humanity, which defeats even robbers, is opposed by evil trolls and the soulless Snow Queen.

The bearer of the heroic principle becomes the most ordinary person, a little girl. Andersen the romantic adheres to the peculiarities of “local color” when describing the places where Gerda ends up: these are the wretched living conditions in the attic, this is the arrogance at the court of the prince and princess, these are the rude customs of the robbers, this is the Finnish tent where there are no doors and therefore you need to knock on the chimney, etc. All these realities, permeated with the author's humor, introduced into the fairy tale, create intense interest in events and the selfless struggle to save a kind human heart - the greatest value in the world. At this stage, Andersen also created stories such as “The Little Match Girl.”

In form, it is a parody of a Christmas story, where the suffering of poverty should have a happy ending. In Andersen, happiness comes to a freezing and lonely child only in his dying sleep. Indifferent passers-by mistake the frozen girl for a pile of rags. The stories told by Andersen are noticeably simplified. There are no more people from the graves, no more swan princes.

The heroes become a Christmas tree, a hare, mice, rats, residents of the poultry yard, a cat, and a nightingale. Andersen confesses: “It often seems to me as if every fence, every flower is telling me: “Just look at me, and then my story will pass on to you,” and now, if I want to, stories immediately appear for me.” Objects, animals, birds, plants that have become heroes of fairy tales seem to retain their “psychology”: the Christmas tree is insulted by the fact that a little hare can jump over it so unceremoniously, etc. But the author needs these heroes, first of all, in order to use them to talk about people and their characteristics.

A collar or a darning needle in the fairy tales of the same name, the inhabitants of the poultry yard in The Ugly Duckling are ordinary townsfolk who suddenly imagine themselves as exceptional and important persons. The darning needle, for example, believes that the fingers exist only to hold it. Andersen creates an entirely special fantasy, devoid of romantic dualism. His characters move freely from the world of everyday life and reality to the fictional world. This tradition of folk tales was close to the artist’s childhood. “Simplification,” so to speak, of fairy-tale material in the 40s did not at all mean a reduction in imagination.

On the contrary, Andersen was never so resourceful as at this stage, when he told amazing stories about the most prosaic subjects. Changing the scope of searches for fairy-tale characters brought fairy tales closer to reality

Today Andersen is called a brilliant storyteller, his works are fairy tales for children, but the writer himself believed that he was not understood and his creations were more like instructive stories. In addition, he did not like children, and repeatedly said that he created his works for adults. Most of Andersen's works were adapted and, in many ways, softened, but the original versions are imbued with Christian motifs, they are darker and more severe.

Difficult childhood

It is believed that one of the reasons for the writer’s cruel tales was his difficult childhood. Critics, Andersen's contemporaries, often attacked him, did not recognize his talent, accusing him of “badness of kind” and “mediocrity.” The fairy tale “The Ugly Duckling” was ridiculed as an autobiographical work with libelous elements. This is partly true; the author later admitted that he was the “ugly duckling” who became the “white swan”. Andersen's childhood was spent in poverty, misunderstanding from relatives and peers. The father and writer were shoemakers, the mother was a laundress, and the sister, according to researchers, was a prostitute. He was ashamed of his relatives, and after he achieved fame, he did not return to his hometown almost until his death.

Andersen admitted that he borrowed some ideas for his works from folk tales of Denmark, Germany, England and other peoples. About The Little Mermaid, he said that it was worth writing again.

At school he had difficulty reading and writing, for which he was repeatedly beaten by teachers. However, he never mastered spelling; Andersen wrote with monstrous errors until his old age. The future storyteller was bullied by neighborhood boys, teachers and students at school, and later at the gymnasium, and they humiliated him at his first place of work. In addition, the writer was unlucky in love; Andersen was never married and had no children. His muses did not reciprocate his feelings; in revenge, the images of the “Snow Queen,” the princess from the fairy tale “The Swineherd,” were copied from them.

Mental disorder

Andersen's maternal ancestors were considered mentally ill in Odense. His grandfather and father claimed that royal blood flowed in their veins, these stories influenced the storyteller so much that as a child his only friend was the imaginary Prince Frits, the future king of Denmark. Today they would say that Andersen had a highly developed imagination, but at that time he was considered almost insane. When the writer was asked how he writes his fairy tales, he said that the heroes simply come to him and tell their stories.

Andersen became a cultural visionary of his era. In the fairy tales “The Little Mermaid”, “The Snow Queen”, “Wild Swans” there is a shade of feminism that was alien to the writer’s contemporaries, but was in demand several decades later.

According to another version, Andersen’s “scary” tales were caused by periodic depressions that plagued him throughout his life and dissatisfaction in the sexual sphere. Until the end of his life, the writer remained a virgin, although he visited brothels, but never used their services. The “abominations” he saw only disgusted him, so he preferred to spend time there in conversations with prostitutes.

The famous Dane wrote more than 150 fairy tales and stories for children, more than a third of them end with the death of the main characters

Myself Hans Christian Andersen I never considered this course of events to be pessimistic. Perhaps his worldview is most accurately expressed in the final phrase of the fairy tale “The Ice Maiden”: “God arranges everything for the best for us.” In the Soviet Union, Andersen's fairy tales were quite popular, and even more so were films and cartoons based on the plots of his works. This is explained by the fact that the originals were heavily adapted and processed. Without this, censorship simply would not have allowed them to be published.

"Flint"

A generation of Soviet schoolchildren knew this story in a highly revised version. In the original version of "Flint" there is a real horror going on - just look at the hellish dogs that attack King And Queen and drag them to the underworld. Of course, Soviet children had no use for such obscenity, as did constant religious allusions and digressions, and translators and retellers came to the rescue. For example, talented Evgeny Schwartz, from whose pen gloomy tales came out transformed.

"The Little Mermaid"

Still from the cartoon "The Little Mermaid". Cheerful and resourceful Ariel -
not at all the heroine Andersen wrote about

One of Andersen's most famous fairy tales, The Little Mermaid, has an incredibly sad ending. Modern children know this story from the beautiful Disney cartoon with the traditional American happy ending. The original fairy tale ends much worse: the prince marries another, the Little Mermaid, in order to save her life, must plunge a sharp knife into the heart of the traitor, but she sacrifices herself for the happiness of her beloved - she throws herself into the sea to turn into sea foam.

It is not known why Andersen came up with such a cruel fate for the Little Mermaid, but he described it, we must give him his due, so poetically that many find it difficult to resist tears.

Snow Queen

Brave Gerda, rushing to free his sworn brother Kaya, walks and walks through the snow and blizzard, not paying attention to the cold, and, having reached the palace of the Snow Queen, frees his brother. The original is replete with many angels who help Gerda after the girl recites the Lord's Prayer. And Gerda got there only thanks to the angels, who stroked her arms and legs with warm palms, not allowing her to freeze. And she was able to cast a spell on Kai, because she tirelessly read psalms about Jesus.

And the fairy tale ends with the children finding their grandmother sitting in the sun and enthusiastically reading the Gospel. The last words of the fairy tale “Roses are blooming - beauty, beauty! Soon we will see the baby Christ." It is clear that this option was completely unsuitable for reading to Soviet children.

By the way: Biographers of the famous storyteller claim that he portrayed a Danish singer and actress in the image of the cold and cruel Snow Queen. Jenny Lind- a woman whom Andersen devotedly and hopelessly loved all his life and who never allowed the writer to come near her.

The most terrible

Many fairly well-known fairy tales and stories by Andersen are crammed with such details that even adults find it difficult to perceive.

« Girl with matches" A little girl sells matches on the street. Despite the approaching New Year, she does not want to return home, where her cruel father is waiting for her. She gradually burns one match at a time, and in the light of the flame, fairy-tale pictures float in front of the baby. As a result, the girl freezes to death. « The New Year's sun illuminated the dead body of the girl with matches; she burned almost the whole pack.”

"The Flea and the Professor". The professor and his girlfriend, a magical flea, arrive in the land of savages, where an 8-year-old (!) princess rules. The princess falls in love with a flea and wants to marry her. Moreover, the princess is a cannibal. « Baby hangers with strong sauce are especially good! - said the princess’s mother.”

"Heartbreak". Children arrange a paid visit to the grave of a dog who has just died. And only one little ragged woman could not “pay” and see, this was her grief. “The children danced around the grave, and then the eldest boy, a practical seven-year-old youth, offered to arrange a viewing of the pug’s grave for all the neighboring children. You could take a panty button for entry..."

"Rosebush Elf" A young man and a girl love each other, but the young man’s evil brother, out of jealousy, kills him and buries him in the ground. The girl digs up the corpse and plants the dead man's head in a flower pot. “We know! We know! After all, we grew from the eyes and lips of the murdered man!”