Hans Christian Andersen's Fairy Tales

“If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales.” ― Albert Einstein

Hans Christian Andersen is considered the “father of modern fantasy.” You are already familiar with many of his short stories. He has many stories focused on winter and the holidays. Many of our favorite stories are based on these tales. What connections can you find to your favorite movies and books?

In SORA you have been assigned a book of Andersen's fairy tales. You login to SORA with your student number (9 number) and password. https://soraapp.com/welcome/login/766

Some Wintery Stories

The Little Match Girl

The Steadfast Tin Soldier

Virtual Field Trips

Hans Christian Andersen is so beloved that a movie was even made about him. This unrated film was published in 1952.

Interview with A Storyteller

Take a Tour of Copenhagen today

More Information

Learn More About Hans Christian Andersen

Lessons from Fairytales

Activity 1

“Life itself is the most wonderful fairy tale.” – Hans Christian Andersen

Read some of Hans Christian Andersen’s Fairy Tales. What are some of the common story elements and genre characteristics?

Compose an original fairy tale, based on personal experiences.

Use a graphic organizer to develop your characters, settings, conflict, and resolution.

Be sure that you have a beginning, a middle, and an end.

Reflect on your finished product.

Activity 2

"Home is where heart is. Heart where cookie is. Math clear: home is cookie." – Cookie Monster

Christmas cookies are fun to make and eat. But why not try a cookie with a Danish twist. The Butter Cookie! And they don’t always come in a blue tin. Make butter cookies as a family.

Here are a few recipes:

Betty Crocker’s Christmas Butter Cookie Cutouts

Good Housekeeping’s Delicious Christmas Butter Cookies

Food Network’s Ultimate Butter Cookie

Food Network’s Best Butter Cookie

Make Royal Icing with Alton Brown (Art and Science connections) For the whole episode see Good Eats S07E12

Questions

Who was Hans Christian Andersen?

What are some of Han Christian Andersen’s most well known stories?

What are some typical characteristics and themes of Andersen’s stories?

Why do you think The Little Match Girl has such a sad ending?

What can readers learn from Andersen’s stories?

Which story is your favorite? Why?

Who is your favorite H.C. Andersen character? Why?

What life lessons can you learn from fairy tales? Be sure to share your evidence.

A Deep Dive

Andersen’s Fairy Tales Audiobook

The Hans Christian Andersen Centre

A Link for Philatelists

A Really Deep Dive

Do you still want to learn more? Hans Christian Andersen’s Fairy Tales are not only for children. Watch this lecture from the BYU Kennedy Center. Here you can learn why these stories can be viewed as serious literature for adults.