Andersen's Fairy Tales (Latest Edition. Color Illustrations and Phonetic Transcription)

Author: (Dan) Hans Christian Andersen
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-09-01
Features: To help children learn to recognize reality and cultivate their pure emotions and noble character, Hans Christian Andersen uses a style that is either humorous, satirical, or lyrical, allowing them to gain insights into reality through engaging plots. In his fairy tales, Andersen enthusiastically praises all human virtues, fully expressing his understanding of the dignity of life and his pursuit of its value. For example, in The Little Mermaid, the Little Mermaid is so noble and dignified that she is willing to sacrifice her own happiness, even her life, to obtain a soul of a "human." In The Wild Swans, Elsina in The Little Match Girl, and the in The Thumbelina and the one-legged tin soldier in The Tin Soldier are all epitomes of the ideal "human" in Andersen's vision. He holds firm faith in their future, believing that no matter how many setbacks and hardships they face, they will surely move towards the light and create a better life. As the story The Ugly Duckling says: "If you are an egg of a swan, it doesn't matter where you are born." In other words, as long as you possess noble qualities and a determined aspiration to rise, even the ridicule and scorn of the vulgar cannot stop you from moving forward.