The Wind Tells about Waldemar Daa and his Daught
This story revolves around the lives of two sisters, one beautiful and vain, the other plain but kind. The wind tells their tale, describing how they are treated by society due to their physical appearances. The beautiful sister is admired and sought after, while the plain sister is overlooked and unappreciated.
By Hans Christian Andersen · First published 1837 · Genre: Fairy Tale, Historical Fiction, Tragedy · 5,345 words
First lines
When the wind sweeps across the grass, the field has a ripple like a pond, and when it sweeps across the corn the field waves to and fro like a high sea. That is called the wind's dance; but the wind does not dance only, he also tells stories; and how loudly he can sing out of his deep chest, and how different it sounds in the tree-tops in the forest, and through the loopholes and clefts and cracks in walls! Do you see how the wind drives the clouds up yonder, like a frightened flock of sheep? Do you hear how the wind howls down here through the open valley, like a watchman blowing his horn? With wonderful tones he whistles and screams down the chimney and into the fireplace. The fire crackles and flares up, and shines far into the room, and the little place is warm and snug, and it is pleasant to sit there listening to the sounds. Let the wind speak, for he knows plenty of stories and fairy tales, many more than are known to any of us. Just hear what the wind can tell.
What this Textopian page supports
The Wind Tells about Waldemar Daa and his Daughters is listed on Textopian as a short story by Hans Christian Andersen, dated 1837 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: 1837 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fairy Tale, Historical Fiction, Tragedy, Allegory, Gothic Fiction
- Length: 5,345 words
- Structure: 1 section, 62 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Wind Tells about Waldemar Daa and his Daughters 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
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Wind Tells about Waldemar Daa and his Daughters?
- 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 Wind Relates The Story Of Waldemar Daae And His Daughters by Hans Christian Andersen
- Our Ladys Child by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
- The Winds Tale About Waldemar Daa And His Daughters by Hans Christian Andersen
- A Story From Halstanas by Selma Lagerlof
- The Man Of Adamant by Nathaniel Hawthorne
- The Bottle Neck by Hans Christian Andersen
Genres
- Fairy Tale — The narrative is structured as a fairy tale, with elements of fantasy and moral lessons, typical of traditional fairy tales.
- Historical Fiction — The story is set in a historical context, with references to past societal structures and customs.
- Tragedy — The plot follows the downfall of Waldemar Daa and his family, characterized by loss and misfortune.
- Allegory — The story uses symbolic elements to convey deeper moral and philosophical messages.
Tags
Fairy Tale · Danish Literature · 19th Century Fiction · Coming of Age · Family Drama · Social Class · Love Story · Romance · Tragedy · Loss · Grief · Identity Crisis