H. C. Andersen (years of life - 1805-1875) was born in the city of Odense, located on the island of Fionia in Denmark. Since childhood, the future writer loved to compose and dream, and often organized home performances. When the boy was 11 years old, his father died, and the child had to work for food. Hans Andersen went to Copenhagen at the age of 14. Here he was an actor at the Royal Theater, and then, under the patronage of Frederick VI, the Danish king, he entered a school in Slagels, from where he was then transferred to another located in Elsinore.
Andersen's works
In 1829, his first science fiction story was published, which brought fame to the writer. And six years later Andersen’s “Fairy Tales” appeared, a list of the best of which is presented in this article. It was they who glorified their creator. The second edition of fairy tales was made in 1838, and the third was published in 1845. The storyteller Andersen was already known in Europe by that time. In subsequent years, he also published plays and novels, making unsuccessful attempts to become famous as a novelist and playwright, but at the same time he continued to write fairy tales. In 1872, on Christmas Day, the last one was written.
We present to you Andersen's fairy tales. We have compiled a list of his most famous works, but, of course, this is not all.
"The Snow Queen"
Hans Christian began writing this fairy tale when he was traveling around Europe - in the city of Maxen, located in Germany, not far from Dresden, and finished the work at home, in Denmark. He dedicated it to Jenny Lind, the Swedish singer, his lover, who never reciprocated the writer’s feelings, and this fairy tale was first published in a collection that appeared in 1844, on the eve of Christmas.
This work has a deep meaning, which is revealed gradually as each of the seven chapters is read. It tells about evil and good, the struggle between the devil and God, life and death, but the main theme is true love, which is not afraid of any tests or obstacles.
"Mermaid"
We continue to describe Andersen's fairy tales. The list will be completed by the following work. This tale was first published in 1837, along with another tale, "The King's New Clothes", in Andersen's collection. The author initially wrote a short preface to it, and then said that this work touched him even during its creation, it deserves to be written again.
The fairy tale has a deep meaning; it touches on the themes of self-sacrifice, love, and gaining the immortality of the soul. Hans Christian, as a deeply religious person, considered it necessary in his commentary to the work to note that the fate of the soul after death depends only on each of us, our actions.
"Ugly duck"
We continue to describe the most famous fairy tales of Hans Christian Andersen. Our list will be complemented by “The Ugly Duckling,” one of the most beloved not only among children, but also among adults. This is not accidental, because the work contains a sacred meaning, the idea of becoming through suffering and obstacles: the birth of a beautiful swan, causing universal delight, from a humiliated, downtrodden ugly duckling.
The plot of the fairy tale reveals the deep layers of social life. A duckling, having found itself in a well-fed, philistine poultry yard, becomes an object of humiliation and bullying from all its inhabitants. The verdict is given by the Spanish fat duck, who even has a special aristocratic sign - a scarlet silk flap tied on her leg, which she found in the trash heap. The little duckling becomes an outcast in this company. He goes in despair to a distant lake, where he lives and grows up in complete solitude. The fairy tale leaves after reading notes of triumph over anger, arrogance and pride. Human relationships are shown with the help of bird heroes.
"Princess on the Pea"
Our story continues about what kinds of fairy tales by Hans Christian Andersen exist. The list of them includes "The Princess and the Pea". This work is aimed more at teenagers and older children. This tale is very short compared to other works by H. H. Andersen. Its meaning is a person’s search for a “soulmate,” shown through a romantic plot about how a young prince searches for her. The work places a gentle emphasis on the fact that no social prejudices can prevent a person from finding happiness.
"Thumbelina"
Psychologists believe that all existing fairy tales can be divided into two types: for boys and for girls. There is some truth in this, although works of this genre often contain deep meaning and are subconsciously intended for adults. However, “Thumbelina” can undoubtedly be classified as a girlish film. The fairy tales of Hans Christian Andersen, the list of which consists of the most famous, certainly include this work. The story of a little girl is full of difficult twists and turns, described in many ways in the work. But the main character overcomes them with wonderful ease and patience, and therefore receives a great reward in the finale - happiness and mutual love. The sacred meaning of the fairy tale is that chance is very often God’s providence, leading person along the path of his destiny.
"Swineherd"
In addition to a fascinating plot, Andersen's fairy tales always contain a deep meaning of existence and human essence. “The Swineherd,” which continues our list of Andersen’s fairy tales for children, in addition to the story about a kind, poor, proud prince who wanted to marry the frivolous and eccentric daughter of the emperor, also tells us that people sometimes cannot immediately recognize real human values and therefore Sometimes they find themselves “at the bottom of nothing.”
"Ole-Lukoje"
G. H. Andersen, the great storyteller, never even thought about becoming a writer, much less creating fairy tales. He wanted to become an actor, recite prose and poetry from the stage, play roles, dance and sing songs. But when he realized that these dreams were not destined to come true, he began to write fairy tales that made him famous throughout the world. One of them, Ole Lukøje, is among the most famous works this author. It has two main characters: Ole-Lukoje, the lord of dreams, a wizard, and Hjalmar, a boy. As Andersen writes in the prologue to his work, every evening Ole Lukoje sneaks unnoticed into the children's bedrooms in order to tell them fairy tales. He first sprinkles warm sweet milk on their eyelids and, inducing sleep, blows on the back of their heads. After all, this is a good wizard. He always has two umbrellas with him: with amazing pictures, bright, and a faceless and boring, gray one. To obedient, kind children who study well, he shows beautiful dreams, and the bad ones don’t see a single one all night.
The tale is divided into seven chapters, according to the number of days of the week. Ole Lukoje comes to Hjalmar every evening from Monday to Sunday and takes him to a world of amazing adventures and sweet dreams. On Sunday, the last day, he shows the boy his brother - another Ole-Lukoje. He rides on a horse with his cloak fluttering in the wind and gathers adults and children. The wizard puts the good ones in front and the bad ones in the back. These two brothers symbolize Andersen's life and death - two interconnected things.
"Flint"
The fairy tales of Hans Christian Andersen, the list of which we are compiling, include “Flint”. This fairy tale is perhaps one of the most “adult” by this author, although thanks to its colorful characters, children also love it. The moral and meaning of the work is that you need to pay for everything in this life, but at the same time, dignity and honor always remain the foundation of human existence. This tale also glorifies folk wisdom. Good soldier, main character, buying the benefits provided by the witch, thanks to his cunning and wisdom, emerges victorious from all the vicissitudes and receives in addition the kingdom and the love of the princess.
Andersen's famous fairy tales, the list of which we have compiled, includes other works. We have listed only the main ones. Each of them is interesting in its own way.
1 - About the little bus who was afraid of the dark
Donald Bisset 
A fairy tale about how mother bus taught her little bus not to be afraid of the dark... About the little bus who was afraid of the dark read Once upon a time there was a little bus in the world. He was bright red and lived with his dad and mom in the garage. Every morning …
2 - Three kittens
Suteev V.G. 
A little fairy tale for the little ones about three fidgety kittens and their funny adventures. Little children love short stories with pictures, which is why Suteev’s fairy tales are so popular and loved! Three kittens read Three kittens - black, gray and...
3 - Hedgehog in the fog
Kozlov S.G. 
A fairy tale about a Hedgehog, how he was walking at night and got lost in the fog. He fell into the river, but someone carried him to the shore. It was a magical night! Hedgehog in the fog read Thirty mosquitoes ran out into the clearing and began to play...
4 - About the mouse from the book
Gianni Rodari 
A short story about a mouse who lived in a book and decided to jump out of it into Big world. Only he did not know how to speak the language of mice, but knew only a strange book language... Read about a mouse from a book...
5 - Apple
Suteev V.G. 
A fairy tale about a hedgehog, a hare and a crow who could not divide the last apple among themselves. Everyone wanted to take it for themselves. But the fair bear judged their dispute, and each got a piece of the treat... Apple read It was late...
6 - Black Pool
Kozlov S.G. 
A fairy tale about a cowardly Hare who was afraid of everyone in the forest. And he was so tired of his fear that he decided to drown himself in the Black Pool. But he taught the Hare to live and not be afraid! Black Whirlpool read Once upon a time there was a Hare...
7 - About the Hedgehog and the Rabbit A piece of winter
Stewart P. and Riddell K.
The story is about how the Hedgehog, before hibernation, asked the Rabbit to save him a piece of winter until spring. The rabbit rolled up a large ball of snow, wrapped it in leaves and hid it in his hole. About the Hedgehog and the Rabbit A piece...
8 - About the Hippopotamus, who was afraid of vaccinations
Suteev V.G. 
A fairy tale about a cowardly hippopotamus who ran away from the clinic because he was afraid of vaccinations. And he fell ill with jaundice. Luckily, he was taken to the hospital and treated. And the hippopotamus became very ashamed of his behavior... About the Hippopotamus, who was afraid...
Hans Christian Andersen was born on April 2, 1805 in Odense on the island of Funen. Andersen's father, Hans Andersen, was a poor shoemaker, his mother Anna was a laundress from a poor family, she had to beg as a child, she was buried in a cemetery for the poor. In Denmark, there is a legend about Andersen's royal origin, since in an early biography Andersen wrote that as a child he played with Prince Frits, later King Frederick VII, and he had no friends among the street boys - only the prince. Andersen's friendship with Prince Frits, according to Andersen's fantasy, continued into adulthood, until the latter's death. After the death of Frits, with the exception of relatives, only Andersen was allowed to visit the coffin of the deceased. The reason for this fantasy was the boy’s father telling him that he was a relative of the king. Since childhood, the future writer showed a penchant for daydreaming and writing, and often staged impromptu home performances that caused laughter and ridicule from children. In 1816, Andersen's father died, and the boy had to work for food. He was apprenticed first to a weaver, then to a tailor. Then Andersen worked at a cigarette factory. In early childhood, Hans Christian was a withdrawn child with large blue eyes, who sat in the corner and played his favorite game - puppet theater. Andersen became interested in puppet theater later.
He grew up as a very subtly nervous child, emotional and receptive. At that time, physical punishment of children in schools was common, so the boy was afraid to go to school, and his mother sent him to a Jewish school, where physical punishment of children was prohibited. Hence Andersen’s forever preserved connection with the Jewish people and knowledge of their traditions and culture.
In 1829, the fantastic story “A Journey on Foot from the Holmen Canal to the Eastern End of Amager” published by Andersen brought the writer fame. Little was written before 1833, when Andersen received a financial allowance from the king, which allowed him to make his first trip abroad. From this time on, Andersen wrote a large number literary works, including in 1835 - the “Tales” that made him famous. In the 1840s, Andersen tried to return to the stage, but without much success. At the same time, he confirmed his talent by publishing the collection “Picture Book Without Pictures.”
The fame of his “Fairy Tales” grew; The 2nd edition of “Fairy Tales” was started in 1838, and the 3rd in 1845. By this time he was already a famous writer, widely known in Europe. In June 1847 he came to England for the first time and was given a triumphant welcome.
In the second half of the 1840s and the following years, Andersen continued to publish novels and plays in a vain attempt to become famous as a playwright and novelist. At the same time, he despised his fairy tales, which brought him well-deserved fame. Nevertheless, he continued to write more and more fairy tales. The last fairy tale was written by Andersen on Christmas Day 1872.
In 1872, Andersen fell out of bed, was badly hurt and never recovered from his injuries, although he lived for another three years. He died on August 4, 1875 and is buried in Assistance Cemetery in Copenhagen.
On the roof of the outermost house in one small town there was a stork’s nest. A mother was sitting in it with four chicks, who were sticking their small black beaks out of the nest - they had not yet had time to turn red. Not far from the nest, on the very ridge of the roof, stood the dad himself, stretched out and one leg tucked under him; he tucked his leg so as not to stand idle on the clock. You would have thought it was carved from wood, it was so motionless.
“This is important, so important! - he thought. - There is a sentry at my wife’s nest! Who knows that I am her husband? They may think that I am here on guard duty. That’s what’s important!” And he continued to stand on one leg.
Children were playing in the street; seeing the stork, the most mischievous of the boys began to sing, as best he could and remembered, an old song about storks; Everyone else followed suit:
Stork, white stork,
Why do you stand there all day long?
Like a sentry
On one leg?
Or do you want kids?
Save your own?
You're fussing in vain, -
We'll catch them!
We'll hang one
We'll throw the other one into the pond,
We will kill the third one,
The youngest is alive
We'll throw it on the fire
And we won’t ask you!
Listen to what the boys are singing! - said the chicks. - They say they will hang us and drown us!
No need to pay attention to them! - the mother told them. - Just don’t listen, nothing will happen!
But the boys did not stop, sang and teased the storks; only one of the boys, named Peter, did not want to pester his comrades, saying that it was a sin to tease animals. And the mother consoled the chicks.
Never mind! - she said. - Look how calmly your father stands, and on one leg!
And we're scared! - said the chicks and hid their heads deeply, deeply in the nest.
The next day the children poured out into the street again, saw storks and sang again:
We'll hang one
Let's throw another one into the pond...
So will we be hanged and drowned? - the chicks asked again.
No, no, no! - answered the mother. - But soon we will begin training! You need to learn to fly! When you learn, we will go with you to the meadow to visit the frogs. They will squat in front of us in the water and sing: “kva-kva-kva!” And we'll eat them - it'll be fun!
And then? - asked the chicks.
Then all of us storks will gather for autumn maneuvers. Then you need to be able to fly properly! It is very important! The general will pierce the one who flies poorly with his sharp beak! So, try your best when the learning begins!
So we will still be stabbed, as the boys said! Listen, they're singing again!
Listen to me, not them! - said the mother. - After the maneuvers we will fly away from here far, far away, beyond high mountains, beyond the dark forests, to warm lands, to Egypt! There are triangular stone houses there; their tops touch the very clouds, and they are called pyramids. They were built a long time ago, so long ago that not a single stork can even imagine! There is also a river there that overflows, and then the entire bank becomes covered with silt! You walk through the mud and eat frogs!
ABOUT! - said the chicks.
Yes! What a delight! All you do there all day long is eat. But while it will be so good for us there, not a single leaf will remain on the trees here, it will be so cold that the clouds will freeze in pieces and fall to the ground in white crumbs!
She wanted to tell them about the snow, but she couldn’t explain it well.
Will these bad boys also freeze into pieces? - asked the chicks.
No, they won’t freeze in pieces, but they will have to freeze. They will sit and get bored in a dark room and won’t dare stick their nose out into the street! And you will fly in foreign lands, where flowers bloom and the warm sun shines brightly.
A little time passed, the chicks grew up, they could already stand up in the nest and look around. Every day the father stork brought them nice frogs, small snakes and all sorts of other delicacies that he could get. And how he amused the chicks with various funny things! He pulled out his tail with his head, clicked his beak, as if he had a rattle in his throat, and told them various swamp stories.
Well, now it’s time to start learning! - the mother told them one fine day, and all four chicks had to crawl out of the nest onto the roof. My fathers, how they staggered, balanced with their wings and yet almost fell!
Look at me! - said the mother. - Head like this, legs like that! One-two! One-two! This is what will help you make your way in life! - and she made several flaps of her wings. The chicks jumped awkwardly and - bam! - everyone was stretched out like that! They were still difficult to lift.
I do not want to study! - said one chick and climbed back into the nest. - I don’t want to fly to warmer climes at all!
So you want to freeze here in winter? Do you want the boys to come and hang you, drown you, or burn you? Wait, I'll call them now!
Ay, no, no! - said the chick and jumped out onto the roof again.
On the third day they were already flying somehow and imagined that they could also stay in the air on outstretched wings. “There’s no need to wave them all the time,” they said. “You can rest.” They did so, but... they immediately fell onto the roof. I had to work with my wings again.
At this time, boys gathered on the street and sang:
Stork, white stork!
How about we fly down and peck their eyes out? - asked the chicks.
No, don't! - said the mother. - Listen better than me, this is much more important! One two Three! Now let's fly to the right; one two Three! Now go left, around the pipe! Great! The last flap of the wings was so wonderful that I will allow you to go with me to the swamp tomorrow. There will be many other lovely families with children there - show yourself! I want you to be the cutest of all. Keep your heads up, it's much more beautiful and impressive!
But will we really not take revenge on these bad boys? - asked the chicks.
Let them shout to themselves what they want! You will fly to the clouds, see the land of the pyramids, and they will freeze here in winter, not seeing a single green leaf or sweet apple!
But we will still take revenge! - the chicks whispered to each other and continued their learning.
The most playful of all the children was the smallest one, the one who first started singing a song about storks. He was no more than six years old, although the chicks thought he was a hundred years old - after all, he was much larger than their father and mother, and what did the chicks know about the years of children and adults! And so all the revenge of the chicks was supposed to fall on this boy, who was the instigator and the most restless of the mockers. The chicks were terribly angry with him and the more they grew up, the less they wanted to bear insults from him. In the end, the mother had to promise them to somehow take revenge on the boy, but not before just before they flew off to warmer climes.
Let's see how you perform on big maneuvers first! If things go badly and the general pierces your chest with his beak, the boys will be right. We'll see!
You'll see! - said the chicks and diligently began to exercise. Every day things got better and better, and finally they began to fly so easily and beautifully that it was simply a pleasure!
Autumn has come; The storks began to prepare to fly away for the winter to warmer climes. That's how the maneuvers went! The storks flew back and forth over forests and lakes: they had to test themselves - after all, a huge journey lay ahead! Our chicks distinguished themselves and received not zero with a tail, but twelve with a Frog and a Snake! It couldn’t have been a better score for them: frogs and snakes could have been eaten, which is what they did.
Information sheet:
Andersen's most popular fairy tales are known all over the world. Sometimes his heroes are sad or unhappy, but always kind and fair. You will find out which of them your child will like best by reading the entire collection.
How to read Andersen's fairy tales?
To understand what the writer’s works teach, you need to read them more carefully, trying to discern the writer’s thought behind the fairy tale plot and try to explain the meaning of the fairy tale to a child of any age. The peculiarity of Andersen's books for children is that surprisingly deep ideas can be hidden behind a simple narrative.
An older child will decide for himself which fairy tales to read. For the youngest, parents should choose small works with a positive ending to the plot, where good triumphs over evil. Otherwise, an impressionable child may become very upset. For bedtime reading, choose the best to guarantee your baby a restful sleep.
Features of the storyteller's creativity
The writer was from a very poor Danish family, and for a long time tried to become famous. He began his literary experiments early, but fame came at the age of thirty, when the first collection for children was published and received rave reviews.
How many troubles he had to endure during his life is unknown. Apparently this is why Andersen writes a lot about the simplest objects, decorating them with a fabulous essence that was so lacking in life. The description of what is happening is not always joyful and positive, but the description of everyday events from a fabulous angle and the author’s imagination are simply amazing.
We offer full meeting Andersen's fairy tales, the list of which is quite large. Among them, probably the most famous “ The Snow Queen" and many others. Free reading and printing options. Well structured text, easy to read. Short and long fairy tales without abbreviations.
