The Prince with the Nose
A king falls in love with a princess cursed by a magician, who reveals that she will marry anyone who can walk on her beloved cat's tail. The king's attempts fail until he finally succeeds, breaking the enchantment but incurring the magician's wrath. The king dies before his son, Prince Wish, is born, leaving the boy with a long nose as a result of the magician's curse. Despite his unusual appearance, the prince is raised to believe that his nose is a mark of greatness. As he grows, he becomes enamored with Princess Darling, who has a small turned-up nose. When he seeks her hand, the courtiers struggle with their prejudices against small noses. The prince's love leads him on a quest to find her after she is kidnapped by the magician. During his journey, he encounters a fairy who, despite her chatter, helps him realize the truth about his nose. Ultimately, he discovers that his long nose is an obstacle to his happiness. Once he acknowledges this flaw, the fairy helps him break the enchantment, allowing him to marry Princess Darling. The prince's nose shrinks to a normal size, and they live happily ever after, free from the burdens of their previous enchantments.
By Dinah Mulock · First published 1857 · Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Drama · 3,006 words
First lines
THERE was once a king who was passionately in love with a beautiful princess, but she could not be married because a magician had enchanted her. The king went to a good fairy to inquire what he should do. Said the fairy, after receiving him graciously: "Sir, I will tell you a great secret. The princess has a great cat whom she loves so well that she cares for nothing and nobody else; but she will be obliged to marry any person who is adroit enough to walk upon the cat's tail."
What this Textopian page supports
The Prince with the Nose is listed on Textopian as a short story by Dinah Mulock, dated 1857 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Dinah Mulock
- Date: 1857 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Drama, Romance, Adventure
- Length: 3,006 words
- Structure: 1 section, 39 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Prince with the Nose by Dinah Mulock
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Prince with the Nose?
- How does this short story by Dinah Mulock fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Fantasy first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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- Sir Lark And King Sun by George Macdonald
- Nannie Braw by George Macdonald
- Droggie by David Rorie
- The Yellow Dwarf by Dinah Mulock
- Tom Thumb by Dinah Mulock
Genres
- Fantasy — The title suggests the story involves a prince with a distinctive physical feature, which is common in fantasy stories. Additionally, the author, Dinah Mulock, is known for writing in the fantasy genre.
- Young Adult — Given the fantastical nature of the story suggested by the title, it is furthermore likely to be targeted at a younger audience.
- Drama — Titles with distinctive character traits often involve some level of drama. The book likely contains character-centered conflicts and interpersonal interactions common in drama.
- Romance — Dinah Mulock often includes romantic elements in her novels. Additionally, prince characters frequently appear in romantic narratives.
Tags
fairy tale · fantasy · adventure · royalty · magic · humor · coming of age · friendship · self-discovery · imagination · moral lessons · whimsical