If Snowmen Could Talk.... Trivia Quiz

Answer: The Little Mermaid

Disney based their film on Hans Christian Andersen's "The Little Mermaid". There are several differences, though. Both tell of a young mermaid who longs to be part of the human world. One of the main differences is that the original wants to have an immortal soul, while Disney ignores this concept.

The Little Mermaid's grandmother tells her that while mermaids live longer than people do, mermaids cease to exist after they die but humans live eternally after they die. Therefore, she wants to be human so that she can go to Heaven after she passes away.

Another major difference is that the prince does not marry The Little Mermaid. The prince is in love with the girl who saved his life, but he does not realize that the girl was the mermaid. Since she gave her tongue to the sea witch--losing her voice--she cannot inform him of her true identity. It is very sad.

Answer: The Snow Queen

Hans Christian Andersen's "The Snow Queen" is very long and is broken into sections. The overall plot is that Gerda must find Kay after the Snow Queen captures him. According to Wikipedia, it is possible that "The Snow Queen" inspired C.S. Lewis. Both the Snow Queen and Lewis's the White Witch are evil, frozen, and both kidnapped boys.

Disney's "Frozen" is based on "The Snow Queen," but it bears little resemblance to the original fairytale.

Answer: The Snow Man

Frosty the Snowman, like Santa Claus, is a popular Christmas or holiday icon.

Andersen's "The Snow Man" is about a snow man who falls in love with a stove. Andersen has a funny quote in the story. He states, "But there are people who are not men of snow, who understand what it is. 'And why did you leave her?' asked the Snow Man, for it seemed to him that the stove must be of the female sex."

Answer: Thumbelina

"Thumbelina" is about a tiny girl who came from a flower. Thumbelina is named such because she is the size of a thumb. A fairy gave the little girl to a woman so that the woman could raise her like a child. However, a toad kidnapped her one night and thought she would make a wonderful bride for his son. After that, she landed in a mole's house and was almost forced to be the mole's wife. Thankfully, Thumbelina was able to escape and marry a little human prince instead.

Many of Hans Christian Andersen's stories begin with "The" in the titles. This, which is also called "Little Tiny," is one that does not.

Answer: The Wild Swans

In "The Wild Swans", a wicked queen, who is also a witch, turns her step-sons into swans. Their only sister, Eliza, tries to help them, but is accused of being a witch herself. This is because she knit magical sweaters. However, Eliza's guide was a fairy; not really a witch.

Answer: The Emperor's New Suit

Andersen's "The Emperor's New Suit", also called "The Emperor's New Clothes", is about men who promise the emperor that he has a special suit that is invisible to unintelligent people. At its end, it is revealed that he has no clothes on at all.

Answer: The Red Shoes

Andersen's "The Red Shoes" is about a girl named Karen who has bewitched shoes. They dance by themselves. When they get stuck on her feet, she cries for help.

Answer: The Princess and the Pea

Andersen's "The Princess and the Pea" deals with a prince who wants to marry a true princess. The young woman is identified as a real princess because she can feel a pea between many mattresses--their logic is that only a real princess could be so sensitive.

Although Andersen wrote many original tales, it is possible that he based this one on a Swedish fairytale called "Princess Who Lay on Seven Peas," according to Wikipedia.

Answer: The Garden of Paradise

The tale's title is not a coincidence. Andersen alludes to the Garden of Eden in this story. A prince wonders why Eve had to take the fruit and why Adam ate it. He tries to find the garden in the world, but realizes that he cannot because it is gone. The spirit of Death tells him that he can find paradise in Heaven instead.

A quote says, "'Alas! what have I done?' he sighed; 'I have sinned like Adam, and the garden of paradise has sunk into the earth.' He opened his eyes, and saw the star in the distance, but it was the morning star in heaven which glittered in the darkness."

Andersen wrote several stories with religious themes, including this one.

Answer: The Ugly Duckling

Hans Christian Andersen's "The Ugly Duckling" is a beloved tale about a "duckling" who is actually a swan. Somehow, a swan egg ended up in a duck's nest. Everybody, apparently including even the duck mother, believed that he was a duckling, but because he looked different, they mistreated him and called him "the ugly duckling". At the end, he grew into a beautiful swan.