Blockhead Hans by Hans Christian Andersen. Short summary

5 seconds

Two scholarly brothers went to a tournament of words to marry a princess. But Hans Churban, who had a reputation as a fool, came out the winner. He succeeded in making the princess laugh and did not mince words.

1 minute

The landowner had three sons: two clever ones, and the third was Hans the Chump. The news spread: the princess promised to give her hand to the one who would make witty conversation and could stand up for himself in discussion.

The brothers spent a week preparing for the tournament of words. Their father gave them a horse each. Hans also expressed a desire to ride. But his father ridiculed him and did not give him a horse.

So Hans saddled a goat and caught up with his brothers. He found a dead crow and a wooden clog, and filled his pockets with mud, promising that he would give it all to the princess. The brothers mocked him and rode on.

Arriving at the palace, they lined up. Upon entering the heavily heated upper room, the brothers began their conversation by saying that it was hot. The princess would reply that it was her father who was going to roast the cockerels. The brothers were taken by surprise and did not know what to say.

Hans Churban, riding into the upper room on a goat and hearing about the roosters, immediately expressed his readiness to roast a crow. He already had a pot — a shoe, and the sauce — mud.

The princess recognized his resourcefulness and married Hans.