Story Summary
Discover the tale of Princess Elisa in The Wild Swans as she endures silence and painful labor to save her eleven brothers from a wicked queen’s dark curse.
Once, a king had eleven sons and one daughter named Elisa. Their happiness was shattered when the king married a wicked queen who hated the children. She turned the princes into wild swans, forcing them to fly across the sea, and banished Elisa from the castle. Years later, Elisa reunited with her brothers, who regained human form only during the night. A fairy queen appeared in Elisa's dreams, revealing that the curse could be broken if Elisa knitted eleven shirts from stinging nettles gathered in graveyards. However, she had to remain absolutely silent throughout the entire task; a single word would kill her brothers. Elisa endured the agonizing pain of the nettles and remained mute even after a young king found her and made her his queen. Accused of witchcraft due to her silence and midnight graveyard visits, she was sentenced to be burned at the stake. As the flames were prepared, she frantically finished the final shirt. When the eleven swans flew down to rescue her, she threw the shirts over them. They instantly turned back into princes, though the youngest retained one swan's wing as Elisa had not finished his last sleeve. Her vow broken, Elisa finally spoke her innocence, and the family was joyfully reunited.
The Moral
True love and devotion are proven through sacrifice, patience, and the strength to endure suffering for the sake of others.
“She was willing to endure even death to save those she loved.”
Fun Fact
Hans Christian Andersen's version is actually an adaptation of a traditional Danish folk tale called 'The Eleven Swans,' but his literary flourishes made it the most famous version.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the moral of The Wild Swans?
The story highlights the power of unconditional love, perseverance, and the sacrifices one is willing to make for family. It teaches that truth and devotion can eventually overcome even the most daunting of trials.
Who wrote The Wild Swans?
This classic fairy tale 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.
Why did Elisa have to remain silent?
Elisa's silence was a mandatory condition of the spell-breaking ritual; if she spoke a single word before the shirts were finished, her brothers would perish. This silence was the ultimate test of her resolve.
What were the shirts made of in the story?
Elisa had to gather stinging nettles from churchyards and crush them with her bare feet and hands. The painful, burning fibers were then spun into yarn and woven into shirts to break the brothers' curse.
What happened to the youngest brother at the end?
Because Elisa was interrupted and ran out of time to finish the last sleeve of the final shirt, the youngest brother remained with a swan's wing instead of an arm. This served as a permanent mark of their ordeal.
Is The Wild Swans similar to The Six Swans?
Yes, they are very similar. 'The Six Swans' is a German version collected by the Brothers Grimm, whereas 'The Wild Swans' is Andersen's literary retelling which features eleven brothers instead of six.