The Constant Tin Soldier
A young tin soldier is made and placed on a shelf with other toys. He dreams of adventure but remains stationary until he falls off the shelf and is swept away by a child's hand. The soldier finds himself in a room filled with other discarded toys, where he meets a ballerina who has been broken.
By Hans Christian Andersen · First published 1838 · Genre: Fairy Tale, Children's Literature, Fantasy · 2,019 words
First lines
There were, once upon a time, five-and-twenty tin soldiers; they were all brothers, for they were born of an old tin spoon. They held their arms in their hands, and their faces were all alike; their uniform was red and blue, and very beautiful. The very first word which they heard in this world, when the lid was taken off the box in which they lay, was, "Tin soldiers! " This was the exclamation of a little boy, who clapped his hands as he said it. They had been given to him, for it was his birthday, and he now set them out on the table. The one soldier was just exactly like another; there was only one of them that was a little different; he had only one leg, for he had been the last that was made, and there was not quite tin enough; yet he stood just as firmly upon his one leg as they did upon their two, and he was exactly the one who became remarkable.
What this Textopian page supports
The Constant Tin Soldier is listed on Textopian as a short story by Hans Christian Andersen, dated 1838 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: 1838 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fairy Tale, Children's Literature, Fantasy, Romance, Adventure
- Length: 2,019 words
- Structure: 1 section, 28 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Constant Tin Soldier 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 Constant Tin Soldier?
- 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
- The Steadfast Tin Soldier by Hans Christian Andersen
- The Poor Boy In The Grave by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
- The Story Of A Mother by Hans Christian Andersen
- Snowdrop by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
- The Daisy by Hans Christian Andersen
- The Sand Hills Of Jutland by Hans Christian Andersen
Genres
- Fairy Tale — The story features fantastical elements, moral lessons, and anthropomorphic characters typical of fairy tales.
- Children's Literature — The narrative is simple, imaginative, and intended for a young audience, with themes of adventure and bravery.
- Fantasy — The presence of magical elements, such as a living tin soldier and a jack-in-the-box imp, aligns with the fantasy genre.
- Romance — The story includes a romantic subplot between the tin soldier and the dancing lady, highlighting themes of love and devotion.
Tags
Fairy Tale · Children's Literature · Puppetry · Soldier · Toy Soldier · Napoleon Wars · War · Loss · Grief · Loneliness · Isolation · Longing