Synopsis of "The Tinder-Box"

Another task I had to complete for this particular unit of work was to summarise the story of "The Tinder-Box" by Hans Christian Andersen. This will give me a much better idea of the story itself and make sure I don't miss any crucial information about my chosen character, or lack of crucial information.

The story of "The Tinderbox" by Hans Christian Anderson is briefly summarised below:

            The story begins with a Soldier, returning home from the war. As he travels home he meets a Witch, who tells him about a hollow tree that, if lowered inside the tree, leads to three rooms that each contain copper, silver and gold. These chests are guarded by three dogs and if they are placed on the witches apron, they will let the soldier take as much money as he pleases. She only asks for an old tinderbox in return, that can also be found in the tree. The Soldier agrees, and collects as many Gold coins as he could carry, and then grabs the tinderbox and the Witch carries him up to the surface.

            However, when he gets to the top and the witch asks for the tinderbox, he questions why she wants it. When she doesn't tell him, the Soldier cuts off her head with his sword and leaves with the tinderbox as well, heading towards the nearest town.

            When he makes it to the town, he surrounds himself with luxury and friends, giving generous amounts of money to the poor and living in the most expensive places he could find. However, the money started to run out, and eventually he was left with just 2 shillings. He was forced to leave his luxury and his friends and return to a life of poverty, his only possession being the tinderbox that he had taken from the witch. He used it to light a match, but one of the dogs appeared. He soon realised that by striking the tinderbox he could summon the dogs to do whatever it was he wanted.

            He commanded them to get him more money, and the soldier returned to his life of luxury. Learning of the beautiful princess that lived in the castle, but was not allowed to be seen by anyone by order of the king because he's scared she'll marry a soldier as was once prophesised. So the Soldier commands the dog to bring him the princess one night, and he instantly fell in love with her, and kept asking the dog to bring her to him every night. The royal family eventually found him and ordered the Soldier to be hanged.

            In the end though, the soldier outsmarted the king and queen, and ordered the dogs to save him from being hanged so they killed everyone, leaving the Soldier to marry the princess and rule the kingdom. The wedding festivities lasted a week, and the dogs remained there viewing the celebrations through their strange eyes.