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Essay
Write an essay on ‘My favorite fairy tale and why I enjoy it’
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1 Reply
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My favorite fairy tale is “The Princess and the Pea” by Hans Christian Andersen. I have always been enchanted by this classic story of a young woman who proves her royalty through her sensitivity.
The premise of the story is simple but charming. A prince is looking to marry a real princess, but has trouble finding one who is genuine. One night, a young woman claiming to be a princess arrives at the castle, drenched from the rain. The queen decides to test her by placing a pea under 20 mattresses and 20 featherbeds. If the woman can feel the pea through all those layers, then she must be a true princess.
Sure enough, the woman wakes up miserable, having been kept awake all night by the lump under the bedding. This proves her royal status, and she and the prince are married.
What I love most about this fairy tale is the way it celebrates sensitivity and perceptiveness as noble qualities. The princess is not celebrated for her strength, beauty or accomplishments, but rather for her delicate nature. In a world that often prizes toughness and insensitivity, it’s refreshing to have a story that elevates gentleness and acute awareness.
I also enjoy the wit and subtle humor of the tale. The idea of a royal family testing a potential bride’s pedigree by seeing if she can feel a single pea is both clever and amusing. It takes a classic “princess and the pea” motif and puts a fun, ironic spin on it.
Finally, I’m drawn to the story’s broader message about authenticity and the danger of false pretenses. Throughout the tale, the royal family is on the lookout for someone masquerading as a princess. When the true princess arrives, she is recognized not for her exterior trappings, but for the unique qualities of her character. It’s a story that values substance over appearances.
Overall, “The Princess and the Pea” is a whimsical, thoughtful fairy tale that I never tire of revisiting. Its quirky charm, celebration of sensitivity, and exploration of authenticity make it a standout in the fairy tale canon.
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