The Swineherd
A young prince falls in love with a princess but she rejects him because he is ugly. He disguises himself as a swineherd and the princess falls in love with him. However, when her parents discover his true identity, they are outraged and the prince must leave. The princess follows him, realizing too late that she loves the prince for who he truly is.
By Hans Christian Andersen · First published 1841 · Genre: Fairy Tale, Children's Literature, Romance · 1,894 words
First lines
There was once a poor Prince, who had a kingdom. His kingdom was very small, but still quite large enough to marry upon; and he wished to marry.
It was certainly rather cool of him to say to the Emperor's daughter, "Will you have me? " But so he did; for his name was renowned far and wide; and there were a hundred princesses who would have answered, "Yes! " and "Thank you kindly. " We shall see what this princess said.
What this Textopian page supports
The Swineherd is listed on Textopian as a short story by Hans Christian Andersen, dated 1841 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: 1841 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fairy Tale, Children's Literature, Romance, Satire, Fantasy
- Length: 1,894 words
- Structure: 1 section, 57 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Swineherd 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 Swineherd?
- 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 Bottle Neck by Hans Christian Andersen
- What Happened To The Thistle by Hans Christian Andersen
- The Dream Of Little Tuk by Hans Christian Andersen
- A Night In The Kitchen by Hans Christian Andersen
- The Old Street Lamp by Hans Christian Andersen
- The Story Of The Year by Hans Christian Andersen
Genres
- Fairy Tale — The story features magical elements, moral lessons, and a narrative style typical of traditional fairy tales.
- Children's Literature — The simple language, moral lesson, and fantastical elements make it suitable for a young audience.
- Romance — The plot revolves around a prince's desire to marry a princess, exploring themes of love and courtship.
- Satire — The story critiques societal norms and the superficiality of the aristocracy through humor and irony.
Tags
Fairy Tale · Short Story · Fantasy · Literary Fiction · Danish Literature · Classic · Children's Literature · Coming of Age · Self-Discovery · Identity Crisis · Love Triangle · Social Hierarchy