The Naughty Boy by Hans Christian Andersen. Short summary

5 seconds

The old poet lets in a drenched naked boy. It turns out to be Cupid with a bow and arrow. Instead of thanking him, he shoots the poet in the heart. Naughty boy!

1 minute

One rainy day the good old poet was sitting by the heated stove baking apples. He was thinking of those who were out on the street in such bad weather.

Then there was a knock at the door. Standing outside was a handsome, but completely naked, cold boy. He had an old bow and arrows in his hands.

The poet let the child in to keep him warm. He warmed him, dried his golden hair, set him on his lap, and gave him a baked apple and some sweet hot wine. When the boy warmed up, he began to dance.

The poet was delighted that the child had cheered up, and asked his name. The boy called his name, Cupid, and showed him his bow and arrows as proof.

The poet noticed that his bow was ruined by the rain. To prove otherwise, Cupid shot the poet through the heart. The poet cried and called Cupid a naughty boy. He promised to tell everyone about his pranks.

Only Cupid knows how to take on different guises, and it is impossible to recognize him. And if he hadn’t shot our parents, we wouldn’t be here.