Quote from "The Wild Swans" (1838)

Registered motifs in this quote

When Elisa saw these things that were so precious to her, a smile trembled on her lips, and the blood rushed back to her cheeks. The hope that she could free her brothers returned to her, and she kissed the King's hand. He pressed her to his heart and commanded that all the church bells peal to announce their wedding. The beautiful mute girl from the forest was to be the country's Queen.

The archbishop whispered evil words in the King's ear, but they did not reach his heart. The wedding was to take place. The archbishop himself had to place the crown on her head. Out of spite, he forced the tight circlet so low on her forehead that it hurt her.

Registered motifs in this quote:

  1. Church bell
  2. Priest
  3. Wedding
Comment: You will not find many evil priests among Andersen's tales, but here is one. His evil isn't explained. As the stepmother, the evil queen, who is also a witch, he is taken from the world of folktales and is described in the simple manner of the folktale: he is evil, and that's it.