Writing background:
In Andersen's era, Denmark was still a monarchy-absolute society. Since the Middle Ages, social life has been rarely touched. After entering the nineteenth century, a series of major historical changes occurred.
The depletion of national power caused by the Napoleonic Wars, the failure on the Norwegian issue, the economic recession in the 1920s, the king's shift from a royalist stance to a dictatorship, and the middle class's cautiousness and compromise.
These all keep society in a state of political oppression and cultural ignorance. In Andersen's works, we also feel the grayness and depression of this era everywhere. Andersen used fairy tales as a modern form of expression.
He uses the "children's" perspective of fairy tales to see into the complex lives of modern people. Andersen allowed fairy tales to transcend the legendary imagination in the category of folk literature and become a distinctive form of individual writing and exploration of modern techniques.
Extended information:
Introduction to some of Andersen's fairy tales:
1. The Daughter of the Sea
"The Daughter of the Sea" is written by Andersen The fairy tale created by him was also translated as "The Mermaid Princess" and was first published in 1837. This work tells the story of the sea princess and the little mermaid who pursues a person's noble and immortal soul.
Giving up the free life under the sea and the 300-year long life, abandoning the beautiful singing voice in the hands of the evil witch, enduring the great pain caused by turning the fish tail into human legs, With her love, her heart and her young life.
To pursue the eternal and noble human soul, and to share all the eternal happiness of human beings through "good works". The writer eulogized the little mermaid's pursuit of love, soul, and ideals, and showed her kind and pure character, strong perseverance, and spirit of sacrifice.
2. The Ugly Duckling
"The Ugly Duckling" is a fairy tale created by the Danish writer Andersen, first published in 1843. This book tells the story of a swan egg that broke out of its shell in a flock of ducks and was despised by its peers because of its strange appearance. After going through untold hardships and hardships, it grew into a white swan.
"The Ugly Duckling" illustrates that as long as you have ideals, pursuits, and work hard for this goal, it doesn't matter even if you are in adversity, "gold will always shine."
Frustration and pain in life are inevitable and can only be faced with strength. At the same time, "ugly duckling" also refers to children or young people who are not noticed, and sometimes refers to things that have just appeared and are not noticed.
3. The Wild Swan
"The Wild Swan" is a fairy tale created by the Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen. It was first published in 1838. The story tells the story of a benevolent man. The fight against evil.
The protagonist Elisa is a weak woman, but she defeated the queen and bishop, who were much stronger and more powerful than her, and rescued 11 brothers who were turned into swans by the queen's magic.
She can succeed because of her courage, determination and perseverance. How much courage it takes to face the sting of nettles and the pain of being unable to speak for a year. Faced with the bishop's false accusation against her and the punishment of burning her to death.
She did not give up and persisted until the last minute, finally completing her work. The work expresses that as long as you have courage and perseverance, you will definitely become the final winner.
Baidu Encyclopedia-Andersen’s Fairy Tales