The Girl who Trod Upon Bread
A young girl treads upon a loaf of bread that has been left on the road, causing it to be ruined. The baker's wife scolds her and demands compensation for the damaged bread. The girl refuses to pay, claiming she did not intentionally tread on the bread. The story explores themes of responsibility, guilt, and the consequences of one's actions.
By Hans Christian Andersen · First published 1845 · Genre: Fairy Tale, Moral Allegory, Fantasy · 3,814 words
First lines
You have doubtless heard of the girl who trod upon bread, not to soil her pretty shoes, and what evil this brought upon her. The tale is both written and printed.
She was a poor child, but proud and vain. She had a bad disposition, people said. When she was little more than an infant it was a pleasure to her to catch flies, to pull off their wings, and maim them entirely. She used, when somewhat older, to take lady-birds and beetles, stick them all upon a pin, then put a large leaf or a piece of paper close to their feet, so that the poor things held fast to it, and turned and twisted in their endeavours to get off the pin.
What this Textopian page supports
The Girl who Trod Upon Bread is listed on Textopian as a novella by Hans Christian Andersen, dated 1845 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novella
- Author: Hans Christian Andersen
- Date: 1845 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fairy Tale, Moral Allegory, Fantasy, Children's Literature, Folklore
- Length: 3,814 words
- Structure: 1 section, 66 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Girl who Trod Upon Bread 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 Girl who Trod Upon Bread?
- How does this novella by Hans Christian Andersen fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Fairy Tale first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Story Of The Year by Hans Christian Andersen
- What Happened To The Thistle by Hans Christian Andersen
- Sing A Song O Sixpence by L. Frank Baum
- The Bottle Neck by Hans Christian Andersen
- The Boy Who Had A Moon On His Forehead And A Star On His Chin by Joseph Jacobs
- The Tin Woodman Plucks A Rose by L. Frank Baum
Genres
- Fairy Tale — The story features fantastical elements, moral lessons, and a narrative style typical of traditional fairy tales.
- Moral Allegory — The narrative serves as an allegory for pride and redemption, illustrating moral lessons through the protagonist's journey.
- Fantasy — Incorporates fantastical elements such as the Old Woman of the Bogs and the transformation of the protagonist, which are hallmarks of fantasy.
- Children's Literature — The story is written in a style accessible to children and includes themes and lessons aimed at a young audience.
Tags
Fairy Tale · Fantasy · Short Story · Literary Fiction · Children's Literature · Danish Literature · 19th Century Literature · Classic Literature · Mythology · Symbolism · Allegory · Coming of Age