The Six Swans by Dinah Mulock (1852)

Name: The Six Swans
Author: Dinah Mulock

A king, lost in a forest while hunting, encounters a witch who offers to guide him out in exchange for marrying her beautiful daughter. Reluctantly, he agrees, but upon returning home, he fears for his seven children from his first marriage. To protect them from their new stepmother, he hides them in a remote castle. The queen, driven by jealousy, discovers their location and uses witchcraft to transform the six brothers into swans, leaving only their sister behind. Determined to rescue her brothers, the girl ventures into the woods, finds them, and learns she must remain silent for six years while crafting shirts from stitchweed to break the spell. During this time, she is discovered by a king who falls in love with her despite her silence. The wicked mother-in-law falsely accuses her of infanticide, leading to her condemnation. On the day of her execution, the six swans return, and she throws the shirts over them, restoring them to human form. They reveal the truth to the king, who rescues their stolen children and punishes the wicked mother-in-law. The family is reunited, and they live happily ever after.

By Dinah Mulock · First published 1852 · Genre: Fairy Tales, Fantasy, Children's Literature · 2,344 words

First lines

Once upon a time, a king, hunting in a great forest, chased a wild boar so eagerly, that none of his people could follow him. When evening came, he stopped to look about him, and saw that he had lost himself. He sought everywhere for a way out of the wood, but could find none. Then he perceived coming towards him an old woman, whose head kept constantly shaking. She was a witch.

"My good woman," said he to her, "cannot you show me the way through the wood?"

What this Textopian page supports

The Six Swans is listed on Textopian as a short story by Dinah Mulock, dated 1852 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: 1852 CE
Language: English
Genres: Fairy Tales, Fantasy, Children's Literature, Adventure
Length: 2,344 words
Structure: 1 section, 36 paragraphs
Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

Good citation fit

Work identity for The Six Swans by Dinah Mulock
Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters

What should a reader notice first when entering The Six Swans?
How does this short story by Dinah Mulock fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Fairy Tales first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Fairy Tales — The book is an adaptation of a European fairy tale about six brothers who are transformed into swans and saved by their sister.
Fantasy — The book features a plot involving magic, curses, and transformations which are all elements common in fantasy literature.
Children's Literature — As with many of Dinah Mulock's works, this book is targeted at a young audience and is written in a style that is suitable and engaging for children.
Adventure — The story includes elements of adventure as the protagonist undertakes a quest to save her brothers, facing many challenges along the way.