Hans Christian Anderson; Use Of Art In His Life

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Alex Grunyk Christopher Bishop Lit Trans 275 First Draft 4/20/10 The Use of Art in Andersen’s Life and Stories Hans Christian Andersen’s short story “The Most Incredible” illustrates the power of art and criticism in the world. Andersen uses inanimate objects, the audience, and imagery to express his feelings about the people who are constantly judging and criticizing him. This story has many underlining themes that might not be noticed on the first read through about Andersen’s life and the way he is treated by his peers. Andersen lived a meager lifestyle growing up, needing to fight for everything he could get, including the respect of his readers, critics, and a reputation that is known throughout the world. The same characteristics can be seen in the young man in “The Most Incredible.” The man in the story lives an underprivileged life, but he is a generous, sincere person who deserves more. This timeless story conveys art as being the most powerful and extraordinary source of talent; art is an outlet for people to express aspects of their lives such as religion, love, animosity, and envy; art will always live on through the people who create it. “The Most Incredible” uses art to demonstrate its ability to amaze and influence others. A contest is held for the people of a kingdom for the man who can do the most incredible. The winner earns the right to marry the princess and own half of the kingdom. People tried to impress the judges of the contest by eating themselves to death, overdrinking, and other ridiculous stunts, but the man who did the most incredible was a young man who built a clock. This is no ordinary clock; figures would come forth every hour speaking and singing praise of God, Jesus and nature. “People said that nothing so incredible had ever before been seen.”(Andersen,) Everyone agreed it is the most stunning and inspired art they have

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