Story Summary
Discover the classic tale of The Snow Queen, where young Gerda embarks on a perilous journey to save her friend Kay from an icy world of eternal winter and loss.
Long ago, a wicked sprite created a magic mirror that distorted reality, making everything beautiful look hideous and everything evil look grand. When the mirror shattered, millions of tiny shards blew across the world. One such splinter lodged in the eye and heart of a young boy named Kay, turning his heart to ice and making him cruel to his best friend, Gerda. One winter day, the mysterious Snow Queen appeared in her white sleigh and whisked Kay away to her frozen palace in the North. Devastated, Gerda set out on a perilous journey to find him. She encountered a sorceress, a wise crow, and a brave robber girl, eventually reaching the frozen wastes of the Arctic. When she finally found Kay in the Snow Queen's empty hall, he was blue with cold and trying to solve a puzzle of ice. Gerda’s hot tears of love fell upon his chest, melting the shard in his heart. Kay wept, dislodging the splinter from his eye, and remembered his friend. Together, they escaped the icy realm and returned home to find they had grown into adults, yet remained children at heart.
The Moral
The power of innocent, selfless love and a pure heart can overcome the coldest cynicism and thaw the most hardened soul.
“I can give her no greater power than she has already. Don't you see how great it is?”
Fun Fact
Hans Christian Andersen allegedly based the cold, distant Snow Queen on Jenny Lind, a famous opera singer who rejected his romantic advances.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the moral of The Snow Queen?
The moral is that love, faith, and innocence possess a unique power to conquer evil and emotional coldness. Gerda's persistence and her tears are what eventually save Kay from his frozen state.
Who wrote the original Snow Queen story?
The story was written by the famous Danish author Hans Christian Andersen and was first published in 1844. It is one of his longest and most highly acclaimed fairy tales.
Is Disney's Frozen based on The Snow Queen?
Yes, Frozen is loosely inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's tale. While the movie focuses on the bond between two sisters, the original story focuses on the friendship between Gerda and Kay.
What caused Kay to change his personality?
Kay changed because a shard from a cursed magic mirror entered his eye and his heart. This caused him to see only the bad in things and turned his heart into a lump of ice.
How did Gerda find the Snow Queen's palace?
Gerda traveled across many lands, receiving help from a variety of people and animals, including a reindeer and a Lapland woman. These guides helped her navigate the treacherous frozen north.
What does the Snow Queen represent?
She often represents cold intellect and lack of emotion. Unlike many fairy tale villains, she isn't purely 'evil' but rather a personification of the cold, unfeeling side of nature and logic.