Hans Christian Andersen

Underwater Photography of Ocean by Jeremy Bishop

Hans Christian Andersen and Disney: The Tale of Two Different Mermaids

September 6, 2017
Cross Section
Essay, Non-Fiction
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by Mirha Girt University of Wisconsin–Madison Disney’s recreation of Hans Christian Andersen’s stories, like “The Little Mermaid,” altered their meanings and changed Andersen’s portrayal of women, in particular. Disney’s versions—lighter and often with a happy ending—erase the original passion and anguish that are the backbone of Andersen’s stories. These films lead many people to believe they are watching the recreation of the real story when they actually present quite a different story from Andersen’s. Disney’s “The Little Mermaid”—produced by Walt…

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Dangerous Women, or Obedient Vessels?

September 6, 2016
Cross Section
Essay, Non-Fiction
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By Linnea Rock University of Wisconsin–Madison Amidst the entirety of entertainment available and loved today, it is relieving to discover thought-provoking content occasionally exists. Using modern forms of entertainment is a great way to criticize social norms and to inform others about different ideas. This makes it possible for one’s ideas to reach a wide audience because of the popularity and accessibility of media to people of all class levels. Today’s popular media forms are full of societal critiques, but…

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Woodcut of Inchelina

Inchelina’s Bildung Journey

November 18, 2015
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Essay, Non-Fiction
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By Linnea Rock University of Wisconsin–Madison A story of adventure and development with sorrows, triumphs, and love, along with magical qualities, dire situations, and complex characters is perhaps one of the most entertaining types of tales. “Inchelina,” by Hans Christian Andersen, was published in 1835, a time in which women did not have the same opportunities as women do today. By writing “Inchelina” during this time period, Anderson was able to demonstrate the sexism of society, as well as give…

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Fearing Change: An Analysis of Andersen’s “The Year’s Story”

November 18, 2015
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Essay, Non-Fiction
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By Adam Rieder University of Wisconsin–Madison Societies inherently possess many problems. These problems can range from hierarchical issues to problems concerning collective action. In many of his tales, Andersen is critical of these very issues. “The Year’s Story” is no exception. Written in 1852, “The Year’s Story” is a story about the changing of the seasons, and upon further examination, it is also so much more than that. To give some historical context, Denmark’s elite decided to transition away from…

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An Analysis of Beauty, Truth, and Goodness

October 12, 2014
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Essay, Non-Fiction
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By Mattias Schmidt University of Wisconsin–Madison What is Romanticism? This is a question that many people believe they are more than capable of answering. In truth, though, Romanticism is not an easily defined literary movement. It comprises layers upon layers of concepts and ideas, and some are even so complex that the human mind has difficulty encompassing them within an easily explicable framework. In Hans Christian Andersen’s tale “The Philoso­pher’s Stone,” the protagonist’s goal is to locate and unify the…

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Desirable or Disturbing? An Analysis of The Sandman

May 1, 2014
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Essay, Non-Fiction
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By Kayta Gruneberg University of Wisconsin–Madison The Sandman is a mythical character, popular in Central and Northern European folklore, who brings sleep by sprinkling magical sand onto the eyes of children. The tale of the “The Sandman” has been written numerous times from the perspective of many different cultures, and, as a result, each version of the story drastically differs. Some portray the Sandman as good and lovable while others focus on the morbidity of death. I will focus on…

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