The Happy Family by Hans Christian Andersen
A young couple's marriage is portrayed as a series of disappointments and disillusionments. The husband's infidelity and the wife's unhappiness are presented as inevitable consequences of their union.
By Hans Christian Andersen · First published 1847 · Genre: Fairy Tale, Children's Literature, Fable · 1,566 words
First lines
Really, the largest green leaf in this country is a dock-leaf; if one holds it before one, it is like a whole apron, and if one holds it over one's head in rainy weather, it is almost as good as an umbrella, for it is so immensely large. The burdock never grows alone, but where there grows one there always grow several: it is a great delight, and all this delightfulness is snails' food. The great white snails which persons of quality in former times made fricassees of, ate, and said, "Hem, hem! how delicious! " for they thought it tasted so delicate -- lived on dock-leaves, and therefore burdock seeds were sown.
What this Textopian page supports
The Happy Family is listed on Textopian as a short story by Hans Christian Andersen, dated 1847 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: 1847 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fairy Tale, Children's Literature, Fable, Fantasy, Satire
- Length: 1,566 words
- Structure: 1 section, 22 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Happy Family by Hans Christian Andersen
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Similar titles
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- The Fairy Godmother In Law by Oliver Herford
- A Night In The Kitchen by Hans Christian Andersen
- The Two Neighboring Families by Hans Christian Andersen
- The Conceited Apple Branch by Hans Christian Andersen
- What The Old Man Does Is Always Right by Hans Christian Andersen
Genres
- Fairy Tale — The story features fantastical elements, anthropomorphized animals, and a moral lesson, typical of fairy tales.
- Children's Literature — The narrative is simple, imaginative, and suitable for a young audience, with themes of family and happiness.
- Fable — The story uses animals to convey a moral lesson about contentment and the nature of happiness.
- Fantasy — The presence of talking snails and a whimsical setting aligns with the fantasy genre.
Tags
Fairy Tale · Satire · Social Commentary · Family Dynamics · Marriage · Love · Happiness · Unhappiness · Societal Expectations · Conformity · Individuality · Morality