Hans Christian AndersenHans Christian Andersen“The Little Mermaid”“The Little Mermaid”

By: Amber, Kristen, Karissa, By: Amber, Kristen, Karissa, and Raecheland Raechel

BiographyBiography

• Born: April 2Born: April 2ndnd, , 1805 in Odense, 1805 in Odense, DenmarkDenmark

• The only child of The only child of Hans Andersen and Hans Andersen and Anna Maria Anna Maria AndersdatterAndersdatter

• Danish author and Danish author and poetpoet

Merriman, C D. “Hans Christian Andersen” The Literature Network. 2006. Jalic Inc. 22 May 2009 http://www.online-literature.com/hans_christian_andersen/.

• Attended Attended Copenhagen Copenhagen UniversityUniversity

• While there, he While there, he wrote his first wrote his first poem, “The Dying poem, “The Dying Child” published in Child” published in the the Copenhagen Copenhagen PostPost in 1827 in 1827

Merriman, C D. “Hans Christian Andersen” The Literature Network. 2006. Jalic Inc. 22 May 2009 http://www.online-literature.com/hans_christian_andersen/.

• Andersen had a keen interest in other Andersen had a keen interest in other cultures. During the course of his life cultures. During the course of his life he traveled extensively throughout he traveled extensively throughout Europe and wrote a number of travel Europe and wrote a number of travel booksbooks

• Hans Christian Andersen achieved Hans Christian Andersen achieved much success for his work and was much success for his work and was made Honorary Citizen of Odense in made Honorary Citizen of Odense in 18671867

• After battling liver cancer, Andersen After battling liver cancer, Andersen died in his home on August 4died in his home on August 4thth, 1875 in , 1875 in Copenhagen, DenmarkCopenhagen, DenmarkMerriman, C D. “Hans Christian Andersen” The Literature Network. 2006. Jalic Inc. 22 May

2009 http://www.online-literature.com/hans_christian_andersen/.

Hans Christian Andersens’ Hans Christian Andersens’ WorksWorks

““The Little Mermaid”The Little Mermaid”

• Written in 1836Written in 1836• About a sea king and his five daughters. About a sea king and his five daughters.

When each of his daughters turns 15, When each of his daughters turns 15, they are allowed to travel to land. When they are allowed to travel to land. When the youngest daughter gets her turn, the youngest daughter gets her turn, she travels above the water and saves a she travels above the water and saves a handsome prince from drowning. The handsome prince from drowning. The Little Mermaid falls in love with the Little Mermaid falls in love with the prince and longs to become a human. prince and longs to become a human. The Little Mermaid visits a sea witch The Little Mermaid visits a sea witch who gives her a potion which gives her who gives her a potion which gives her legs and everything else human, except legs and everything else human, except she loses her ability to talk. The prince she loses her ability to talk. The prince falls in love with the little mermaid, but falls in love with the little mermaid, but is forced to marry a neighboring is forced to marry a neighboring princess. The next morning her mermaid princess. The next morning her mermaid sisters bring her a knife to kill the prince sisters bring her a knife to kill the prince so she will turn into a mermaid again but so she will turn into a mermaid again but she can’t bring herself to do it. The next she can’t bring herself to do it. The next morning the little mermaid throws morning the little mermaid throws herself into the sea, and turns into foam.herself into the sea, and turns into foam.

“Hans Christian Andersen.” A Collection of the World’s Fairytales. Avaren. 27 May 2009 http://www.fairytalescollection.com.

Andersens’ Works (cont.)Andersens’ Works (cont.)

““The Ugly Duckling”The Ugly Duckling”

• Written in 1843Written in 1843

• Tells a story of a duckling Tells a story of a duckling ostracized by his fellow ostracized by his fellow barnyard friends because barnyard friends because of his perceived of his perceived homeliness. To his delight homeliness. To his delight (and to the surprise of (and to the surprise of others), he matures into a others), he matures into a graceful swan, the most graceful swan, the most beautiful bird of all.beautiful bird of all.

“Hans Christian Andersen.” A Collection of the World’s Fairytales. Avaren. 27 May 2009 http://www.fairytalescollection.com.

Andersens’ Works (cont.)Andersens’ Works (cont.)

““The Princess and the Pea”The Princess and the Pea”• Written in 1835Written in 1835• Tells a story of a prince looking Tells a story of a prince looking

for a “real” princess. One night for a “real” princess. One night during a storm a girl showed during a storm a girl showed up at his door saying she was a up at his door saying she was a real princess, so the queen let real princess, so the queen let her in. She was sent to a room her in. She was sent to a room with twenty mattresses, and with twenty mattresses, and underneath was a pea. The underneath was a pea. The next morning the princess next morning the princess complained that she had slept complained that she had slept horribly. Right then, everyone horribly. Right then, everyone knew she was a real princess. knew she was a real princess. The prince married her and The prince married her and they lived happily ever after.they lived happily ever after.

“Hans Christian Andersen.” A Collection of the World’s Fairytales.

Avaren. 27 May 2009 http://www.fairytalescollection.com.

Andersens’ Works (cont.)Andersens’ Works (cont.)

““The Emperor’s New Suit”The Emperor’s New Suit”

• Written in 1872Written in 1872

• Tells the story of an Tells the story of an emperor whose only emperor whose only ambition is to be well-ambition is to be well-dressed is swindled by dressed is swindled by two men who claim to two men who claim to weave cloth that is weave cloth that is invisible to the eyes of invisible to the eyes of the un-worthy. the un-worthy.

“Hans Christian Andersen.” A Collection of the World’s Fairytales. Avaren. 27 May 2009 http://www.fairytalescollection.com.

ConnectionConnection

• His father often took him to the local playhouse in His father often took him to the local playhouse in order to nurture his creative side.order to nurture his creative side.

• Hans Chrisitan Andersen loved to dance and sing, Hans Chrisitan Andersen loved to dance and sing, and also had a vivid imagination that found its and also had a vivid imagination that found its way into his writing.way into his writing.

• His child-like imagination reflected in his His child-like imagination reflected in his children’s fairy tales, such as:children’s fairy tales, such as:

The Little Mermaid, Thumbelina, The Princess and The Little Mermaid, Thumbelina, The Princess and the Pea, Hansel and Gretel, The Ugly Duckling, the Pea, Hansel and Gretel, The Ugly Duckling, and the Emperors New Suitand the Emperors New Suit

Rossel, Sven H. “Hans Christian Andersen.” 27 May 2009 http://www.nca.gilead.ord.il/chron.html.