The Bell-Deep

Name: The Bell-Deep
Author: Hans Christian Andersen

This story revolves around a young girl who lives with her mother and stepfather. The family's financial situation is precarious, and the stepfather is often drunk. One day, while out walking, the girl meets an old woman who gives her a bell to take home. The girl is instructed to ring the bell whenever she needs help or guidance. The girl returns home and rings the bell, but instead of receiving assistance, she is met with ridicule from her stepfather. Undeterred, she continues to ring the bell in times of need, only to be rebuffed each time. Eventually, the girl's mother dies, leaving her alone with her stepfather. The girl becomes desperate for help and rings the bell one final time. This time, however, it is not an old woman who appears but a group of people who have been summoned by the bell. They take the girl in and provide for her needs. The story concludes with the girl living happily among these strangers, having finally found the help she so desperately needed.

By Hans Christian Andersen · First published 1908 · Genre: Fairy Tale, Fantasy, Folklore · 1,527 words

First lines

"Ding-dong! ding-dong! " It sounds up from the "bell-deep," in the Odense-Au. Every child in the old town of Odense, on the island of Fuenen, knows the Au, which washes the gardens round about the town, and flows on under the wooden bridges from the dam to the water-mill. In the Au grow the yellow water-lilies and brown feathery reeds; the dark velvety flag grows there, high and thick; old, decayed willows, slanting and tottering, hang far out over the stream beside the monks' meadow and by the bleaching-ground; but opposite there are gardens upon gardens, each different from the rest, some with pretty flowers and bowers like little dolls' pleasure-grounds, often displaying only cabbage and other kitchen plants; and here and there the gardens cannot be seen at all, for the great elder trees that spread themselves out by the bank, and hang far out over the streaming waters, which are deeper here and there than an oar can fathom.

What this Textopian page supports

The Bell-Deep is listed on Textopian as a short story by Hans Christian Andersen, dated 1908 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: 1908 CE
Language: English
Genres: Fairy Tale, Fantasy, Folklore, Historical Fiction, Mystery
Length: 1,527 words
Structure: 1 section, 16 paragraphs
Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

Good citation fit

Work identity for The Bell-Deep 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 The Bell-Deep?
How does this short story by Hans Christian Andersen fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Fairy Tale first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Fairy Tale — The narrative features mythical elements such as a water spirit and a magical bell, typical of fairy tales.
Fantasy — Incorporates fantastical elements like the Au-mann and the bell's supernatural abilities.
Folklore — Draws on traditional stories and legends, particularly with the character of the Au-mann and the historical setting.
Historical Fiction — References historical figures and events, such as King Canute, within a fictional narrative.