Full-time Compulsory Education Chinese Curriculum Standard Recommended Book List Introduction -(Introduction Version)

Author: Chen Jianxin, Huang Qing / Country: Mainland China
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-06-01
Features: Open the pages of Andersen's fairy tales, and we step into a colorful and rich world. Here, there is the Ugly Duckling who, after enduring hardships, becomes a swan; the admirable and lovable; the mermaid who understands the true meaning of love; and the heartbreaking. Of course, there is also the foolish and self-righteous Emperor.
Author Introduction: Hans Christian Andersen was a literary giant of 19th-century Denmark and a world-famous fairy tale writer. Born into a poor family, he attended a charitable school in his early years and worked as an apprentice. From a young age, he had a deep love for literature. At the age of fourteen, he came to the capital, Copenhagen, alone. After eight years of struggle, he finally demonstrated his talent in the poetic drama "Alfons," which led to him being admitted to Slagelse Seminarium and Helsing?r School for free education. In 1828, he enrolled at the University of Copenhagen. After graduation, he mainly relied on his earnings from writing to sustain himself.
Andersen's literary career began in 1822, with his early works primarily consisting of poems and plays. After entering university, his writing matured. He published travelogues and operettas, as well as poetry collections and poetic dramas. The novel "The Improvisatore," published in 1833, brought him international acclaim and is considered a masterpiece of his adult literature. In 1838, he received the Writers' Prize, receiving a state-funded allowance of 200 crowns annually for non-official work. "To fight for the future generation," Andersen decided to write fairy tales for children and published "Stories for Children." For the following years, he released such collections every Christmas. He continued to publish new works until 1872, when he gradually stopped writing due to cancer.
Content Summary: Throughout his life, Andersen wrote a total of 168 fairy tales. "Selected Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen" includes 19 of them: "The Princess on the Pea," "Maidel's Flowers," "The Little Match Girl," "The Naughty Child," "The Little Mermaid," "The Emperor's New Clothes," "The Steadfast Tin Soldier," "The Wild Swans," "The Angel," "The Ugly Duckling," "The Red Shoes," "The Shepherdess and the Chimney Sweeper," "The Little Match Girl," "The Old Lamp Post," "The Ugly Duckling," "The Old Oak Tree's Dream," "The Daughter of the Marsh King," "The Old Man Who Always Got It Wrong," and "A Silver Coin." These are beloved stories for children, which can be mainly divided into two categories:
Category 1: These works are rich in imagination, vivid in storytelling, lively in language, and full of poetic charm. They often feature beautiful fantasies, an optimistic spirit, and profound life lessons.
The Ugly Duckling tells the story of a duckling who, after enduring countless hardships and trials, transforms into a swan. It is because he holds onto a dream, which supports him. Its story teaches us that life does not have a fixed path; the key lies in pursuing beautiful ideals and aspirations. Setbacks and pains are inevitable in life, but one must learn to overcome them. Through perseverance, people can achieve their dreams just like the Ugly Duckling.
The Little Match Girl features a tiny, who, despite her minuscule size and harsh living conditions, possesses a noble and lofty ideal. She longs for light and freedom. Moreover, she has a very kind heart. The lives of the field mouse and mole may seem quite comfortable—plenty to eat and drink, which satisfies them in their dark burrows. But dislikes living in such vulgar, selfish, and sunless mud. Even under extremely difficult circumstances, she tries to care for others and does everything in her power to save a dying swallow. In the end, finally flies to a free and beautiful land with the swallow, living a happy life.
The Little Mermaid portrays the pure and beautiful spiritual world of the mermaid: She willingly gives up her life in the sea palace to transform into a human, hoping to gain human love and, in turn, a human soul. This story shows her courage in pursuing a noble ideal. These works can represent the artistic achievement of Andersen's fairy tale writing and are also examples of his successful combination of realism and romanticism in fairy tale creation.
Category 2: These works reduce the romantic elements in the story and describe real life in a more straightforward manner.
The Little Match Girl tells the story of a little girl who freezes to death on the street on a snow-covered New Year's Eve.
The Emperor's New Clothes teaches us that vanity and arrogance can blind us, just like the emperor who parades naked and still believes he looks beautiful. Besides children, so many "intelligent" people are willing to lie. Why are adults no better than children? It is because they have learned to be vain, think they are smart, and refuse to face the facts.
In these works, the fantasy elements are reduced, while the realistic elements are relatively strengthened. However, while condemning evil and praising kindness, they also express a persistent pursuit of a better life.
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