HIS LIFE

• Born in 1808 in Odense,

Denmark
• Father was a shoemaker
• Spent time with his
grandmother who worked •

at the local insane asylum

• He was always different
from the other boys. He
made up stories, created
paper dolls and puppets. He
didn’t have the
temperament to “work.”
HIS LIFE

• Hans never fit in as a

child, or an adult
• Although he appeared to
be fragile and weak, he
continually persevered
the harshest
environments.
• In Copenhagen, he was
taken under the wing of
a local patron of the arts.
• At an early age, Hans
believed he was going to
be famous, and their was
a spark about him.
SOME EXAMPLES OF HIS PAPER CUTS
THE FAIRY TALES

• The Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen are

closely linked with his life experiences.
• The more you learn about Hans Andersen the
person, the clearer his world of Fairy Tales
becomes.
• Some of the following themes can be found
throughout the Fairy Tales of Hans Christian
Andersen
 THEMES

• Shoes - his dad was a cobbler

• The odd-man out - Always beware of the “unique”
character in the fairy tales. Many describe
Andersen as stork-like, and he was very aware of
how people perceived him.
• Two distinct worldviews: 1. The simple peasant
view of the world held by his mom vs. 2. The
progressive worldview held by his father. These
are two strong and opposing forces that pervade
many of the tales.
• A longing for his grandmother, whom Hans was
very close to as a child.
 RECOMMENDED TALES

• The Steadfast Tin Soldier • The Girl Who Trod on a

• The Dung Beetle Loaf

• Grandmother • The Drop of Water

• The Ugly Duckling • The Philosopher’s Stone

• The Red Shoes • The Little Mermaid

• The Toad • The Flea and the Professor

DECEMBER 16, 1835
APRIL 7, 1837
APRIL 7, 1837
The Fairy Tales of Hans Andersen are as popular today
as they were during his lifetime, over 150 years ago.
Hans Andersen didn’t just put his own experiences in
the tales he wrote, but the experiences of all of us.

Which tales do you most identify with?

Do you see yourself in any of the tales?
Why do you think these stories are so timeless?
THE END