The Ice-Maiden

A young prince ventures into the frozen wilderness to rescue a beautiful maiden who has been turned to ice by her own vanity and pride. He finds her in a cave surrounded by ice and snow, but she remains unresponsive despite his attempts to thaw her out with his tears. Eventually, he is forced to leave her behind as he succumbs to the harsh conditions of the frozen landscape.

By Hans Christian Andersen · First published 1845 · Genre: Fairy Tale, Fantasy, Romance · 15 chapters · 20,866 words

First lines

Let us visit Switzerland and look around us in the glorious country of mountains, where the forest rises out of steep rocky walls; let us ascend to the dazzling snow-fields, and thence descend to the green plains, where the rivulets and brooks hasten away, foaming up, as if they feared not to vanish, as they reached the sea.

The sun beams upon the deep valley, it burns also upon the heavy masses of snow; so that after the lapse of years, they melt into shining ice-blocks, and become rolling avalanches and heaped-up glaciers.

What this Textopian page supports

The Ice-Maiden is listed on Textopian as a novel 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: Novel
• Author: Hans Christian Andersen
• Date: 1845 CE
• Language: English
• Genres: Fairy Tale, Fantasy, Romance, Adventure, Mythology
• Length: 20,866 words
• Structure: 15 chapters, 323 paragraphs
• Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

Good citation fit

• Work identity for The Ice-Maiden 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 Ice-Maiden?
• How does this novel by Hans Christian Andersen fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
• Where does Fairy Tale first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

• The Rose Elf by Hans Christian Andersen
• Briar Rose by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
• The Singing Soaring Lark by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
• The Moon by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
• The Glass Coffin by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
• Maid Maleen by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm

Genres

• Fairy Tale — The narrative follows the traditional structure of a fairy tale, with magical elements and moral lessons.
• Fantasy — The story includes fantastical elements such as supernatural beings and magical occurrences.
• Romance — Central to the plot is a romantic relationship that drives the narrative forward.
• Adventure — The characters embark on a journey that involves challenges and exploration.

Tags

Fairy Tale · Mythology · Magic · Fantasy · Adventure · Romance · Love Story · Tragic Love · Frozen · Ice Queen · Winter Setting · Cold Climate

Contents

• Little Rudy
• The Journey to the New Home
• The Father's Brother
• Babette
• Homewards
• The Visit to the Mill
• The Eagle's Nest
• The News which the Parlour-Cat Related
• The Ice-Maiden
• The God-Mother
• The Cousin
• The Evil Powers
• In the Miller's House
• The Visions of the Night
• Conclusion

More by Hans Christian Andersen

• Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen (1835)
• Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen, Part 2 (1835)
• ¡Baila, baila, muñequita! (1875)
• ¡No era buena para nada! (1875)
• ¡Qué hermosa! (1875)
• Abuelita (1875)
• Algo (1875)
• Ana Isabel (1875)
• All works by Hans Christian Andersen