In the Duck-Yard
The story revolves around a duck who lives in a yard with other animals. The duck's life is mundane and uneventful until one day it meets a group of ducks from the countryside who tell stories about their exciting adventures. Envious, the duck decides to leave its home and embark on a journey to experience similar thrills.
By Hans Christian Andersen · First published 1843 · Genre: Fable, Children's Literature, Satire · 2,712 words
First lines
A duck arrived from Portugal. Some said she came from Spain, but that's all the same. At any rate she was called the Portuguese, and laid eggs, and was killed and cooked, and that was _her_ career. But the ducklings which crept forth from her eggs were afterwards also called Portuguese, and there is something in that. Now, of the whole family there was only one left in the duck-yard, a yard to which the chickens had access likewise, and where the cock strutted about in a very aggressive manner.
What this Textopian page supports
In the Duck-Yard is listed on Textopian as a short story by Hans Christian Andersen, dated 1843 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Hans Christian Andersen
- Date: 1843 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fable, Children's Literature, Satire, Fantasy, Allegory
- Length: 2,712 words
- Structure: 1 section, 53 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for In the Duck-Yard by Hans Christian Andersen
- 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 In the Duck-Yard?
- How does this short story by Hans Christian Andersen fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Fable first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Portuguese Duck by Hans Christian Andersen
- The Terrible Dog Fish by Carlo Collodi
- Three Wise Men Of Gotham by L. Frank Baum
- The Early Owl by Oliver Herford
- The Farmyard Cock And The Weathercock by Hans Christian Andersen
- The Ass And The Horse by Leo Tolstoy
Genres
- Fable — The story uses anthropomorphized animals to convey moral lessons and human-like interactions.
- Children's Literature — The narrative is simple and engaging, suitable for a young audience, with clear moral undertones.
- Satire — The story critiques social behaviors and attitudes through the exaggerated actions and dialogues of the animals.
- Fantasy — The tale involves talking animals and a fictional setting, characteristic of the fantasy genre.
Tags
Fable · Satire · Social Commentary · Animal Story · Morality Tale · Critique of Society · Dark Humor · Absurdity · Irony · Commentary on Class · Commentary on Power · Commentary on Morality