The Snow Queen

The Snow Queen is a children's fairy tale first published in 1845.

Fast Facts

1. Author: Hans Christian Andersen
2. Publication: 1845
3. Told in seven separate stories
4. Themes: Good vs. Evil, Friendship, Truth, Reason vs. Emotion
5. Has been adapted for Film, Animation, Stage, Ballet, Opera

Plot Synopsis

The Snow Queen is a story about two friends separated by the forces of nature when splinters of troll glass from a magic mirror become lodged in the boy's heart and eye. The Snow Queen kidnaps him and takes him off to her home, where he slowly freezes every day until his best friend Gerda finds him there. With Gerda's warmth and love she melts his heart and makes him cry, dislodging the shard of glass from his eye.

Story Titles

• About the Mirror and its Pieces"
• "A Little Boy and a Little Girl"
• "The Flower Garden of the Woman Who Knew Magic"
• "The Prince and Princess"
• "The Little Robber Girl"
• "The Lapp Woman and the Finn Woman"
• "What Happened at the Snow Queen's Palace and What Happened Afterward"

Characters

• The Snow Queen
• The troll or the devil
• Kay
• Gerda
• Grandmother of Kay
• An old sorceress
• A princess
• A prince

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