The Money Box
This novella tells the story of a young man who inherits a large sum of money from a distant relative and becomes wealthy overnight. He uses his newfound wealth to indulge in lavish spending and extravagant lifestyle, but soon realizes that true happiness cannot be bought with money.
By Hans Christian Andersen · First published 1847 · Genre: Fairy Tale, Children's Literature, Fantasy · 1,105 words
First lines
IN a nursery where a number of toys lay scattered about, a money box stood on the top of a very high wardrobe. It was made of clay in the shape of a pig and had been bought of the potter. In the back of the pig was a slit, and this slit had been enlarged with a knife so that dollars, or even crown pieces, might slip through -- and indeed there were two in the box, besides a number of pence. The money-pig was stuffed so full that it could no longer rattle, which is the highest state of perfectness to which a money-pig can attain.
What this Textopian page supports
The Money Box 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, Fantasy, Satire, Allegory
- Length: 1,105 words
- Structure: 1 section, 15 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Money Box 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 Money Box?
- 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 Goblin And The Huckster by Hans Christian Andersen
- The Darning Needle by Hans Christian Andersen
- The Quickest Runners by Hans Christian Andersen
- The Fox And The Geese by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
- Buckwheat by Hans Christian Andersen
- The Story Of The Year by Hans Christian Andersen
Genres
- Fairy Tale — The story features anthropomorphic toys and a moral lesson, typical of fairy tales.
- Children's Literature — The narrative is simple and imaginative, appealing to a young audience.
- Fantasy — Inanimate objects come to life, a common element in fantasy literature.
- Satire — The story critiques societal values such as materialism and self-importance.
Tags
Fairy Tale · Children's Literature · Fantasy · Adventure · Moral Lesson · Short Story · Satire · Social Commentary · Economic Fable · Cautionary Tale · Coming of Age · Self-Discovery