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A Cheerful Temper

From Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen, by Hans Christian Andersen

Hans Christian Andersen, the Danish author best known for fairy tales such as 'The Little Mermaid' and 'The Ugly Duckling,' first published this reflective sketch in the nineteenth century. Unlike his more famous tales, 'A Cheerful Temper' is a philosophical essay in story form, narrated by a man who inherits his hearse-driver father's sunny outlook on life. The narrator wanders through a churchyard, imagining the lives of those buried there and reflecting on human folly with humour rather than judgement. This text reflects its era; a few period terms have been modernised. Andersen invites the reader to consider how perspective—what we choose to notice, how we choose to interpret—shapes our happiness more than our circumstances do.

Band

Red · Complex language and analysisTypical starting range: ages 15–17

Length

long · about 1151 words in 4 sections · 2 pictures

Source

Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen, H. C. Andersen

First published

see the About page in the reader

Regions

Canada · United States

Included formats

• · Web reader and PDF
• · EPUB for e-readers
• · Home-print sheet
• · Folded booklet
• · Binder edition (8.5 × 11)
• · Worksheet
• · Quick Check (10 questions) with answer key
• · Read-aloud script
• · Teacher’s Edition (members)

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