The Shepherdess and the Chimney Sweep
A young shepherdess falls in love with a poor chimney sweep who has been imprisoned for stealing food to feed his starving family. She visits him daily and eventually convinces the king to pardon him. They are married, but their happiness is short-lived as the sweep's poverty and her royal status create tension in their relationship.
By Hans Christian Andersen · First published 1845 · Genre: Fairy Tale, Fantasy, Romance · 2,207 words
First lines
HAVE you ever seen an old wooden cabinet, quite worn black with age, and ornamented with all sorts of carved figures and flourishes?
Just such a one stood in a certain parlor. It was a legacy from the great-grandmother, and was covered from top to bottom with carved roses and tulips. The most curious flourishes were on it, too; and between them peered forth little stags' heads, with their zigzag antlers. On the door panel had been carved the entire figure of a man, a most ridiculous man to look at, for he grinned -- you could not call it smiling or laughing -- in the drollest way. Moreover, he had crooked legs, little horns upon his forehead, and a long beard.
What this Textopian page supports
The Shepherdess and the Chimney Sweep is listed on Textopian as a short story 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: Short story
- Author: Hans Christian Andersen
- Date: 1845 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fairy Tale, Fantasy, Romance, Adventure, Children's Literature
- Length: 2,207 words
- Structure: 1 section, 40 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Shepherdess and the Chimney Sweep 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
Similar titles
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- The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen
- Briar Rose by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
- Ash Maiden by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
- The Loving Pair by Hans Christian Andersen
- The White Bride And The Black One by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
Genres
- Fairy Tale — The story features anthropomorphic objects, a whimsical narrative, and moral lessons typical of fairy tales.
- Fantasy — The narrative includes fantastical elements such as talking porcelain figures and a magical world within a cabinet.
- Romance — The central plot revolves around the love story between the shepherdess and the chimney sweep.
- Adventure — The characters embark on a journey to escape their confines and explore the wider world.
Tags
Fairy Tale · Romance · Love Story · Social Class · Class Differences · Forbidden Love · Poverty · Wealth · Socioeconomic Status · Marriage of Convenience · Arranged Marriage · Love vs Duty