European FolkloreFamous Fairy Tales

The Steadfast Tin Soldier

A brave one-legged soldier endures a perilous journey to return to his beloved paper ballerina.

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Illustration for The Steadfast Tin Soldier - a famous fairy tales European Folklore story with moral lessons

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Story Summary

Discover the classic tale of The Steadfast Tin Soldier, a one-legged toy whose unyielding love for a paper ballerina leads him through a perilous, tragic journey.

There were once twenty-five tin soldiers, all brothers, for they had been made out of the same old tin spoon. They were all exactly alike except for one, who had been cast last when the tin ran short; he had only one leg. This steadfast soldier stood tall and fell in love with a beautiful paper ballerina who stood on one leg outside a cardboard castle. A jealous jack-in-the-box goblin warned the soldier to stop staring, and the next day, the soldier fell from a window. He was found by boys who set him adrift in a paper boat through a gutter and into a dark canal. He faced a water rat and was eventually swallowed by a large fish. Miraculously, the fish was caught and sold back to the same house. Reunited with his ballerina, a boy suddenly threw the soldier into the stove for no reason. A draft blew the paper ballerina into the flames beside him. The next morning, among the ashes, the maid found a small tin heart and a scorched tinsel rose.

The Moral

True devotion and courage persist even through life's most unpredictable and tragic misfortunes.

“He stood as firm as if he had been made of stone, and never moved an eyelid.”

Fun Fact

This was the first story written by Hans Christian Andersen that was entirely original and not based on a pre-existing folk tale or literary source.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the moral of The Steadfast Tin Soldier?

The moral is about the power of constancy and endurance. Despite facing numerous hardships and a tragic end, the soldier never wavers in his courage or his devotion to the ballerina.

Why does the Tin Soldier only have one leg?

He was the last of twenty-five soldiers to be cast from an old tin spoon. The metal ran out before he could be finished, yet he stood as firmly on his one leg as the others did on two.

Who wrote The Steadfast Tin Soldier?

The story was written by the famous Danish author Hans Christian Andersen. It was first published in 1838 as part of his Fairy Tales Told for Children collection.

Does The Steadfast Tin Soldier have a happy ending?

The ending is bittersweet and tragic rather than traditionally happy. While the soldier and ballerina are both consumed by fire, they are united in death, leaving behind a tin heart and a tinsel rose.

Who is the antagonist in the story?

The primary antagonist is the jack-in-the-box goblin who grows jealous of the soldier's gaze toward the ballerina. He is often blamed for the 'curse' or the accident that sends the soldier out the window.

What happens to the soldier after he is swallowed by a fish?

The fish is caught and sold to the kitchen of the very house where the soldier lived. When the cook cuts the fish open, the soldier is miraculously returned to the playroom and his beloved ballerina.