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A Cheerful Temper

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

This tale by Hans Christian Andersen was first published in the mid-nineteenth century. The narrator, who has inherited his hearse-driver father's cheerful disposition, conducts a tour of a churchyard, offering satirical portraits of the dead and explaining his practice of mentally 'burying' tiresome acquaintances as a strategy for maintaining equanimity. The piece is a character sketch in the essayistic mode, blending social satire with philosophical reflection on temperament and the art of living well. Andersen, best known for his fairy tales, also wrote stories for adult readers that explored human psychology and social observation. This text reflects its era; a few period terms have been modernised.

Band

Silver · First-year university levelTypical starting range: adult

Length

long · about 1581 words in 4 sections · 1 picture

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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