In Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Wild Swans,” the girl who follows her brothers is named Elisa.
Elisa’s eleven brothers are transformed into swans through the actions of their stepmother. To restore them, Elisa must gather stinging nettles and weave shirts from the plants. She must also remain silent until the work is finished, creating the story’s central test of endurance.
The tale combines a family quest with motifs found in older European folklore, including enchanted brothers and a speechless heroine. Andersen’s version is notable for making Elisa active and determined: she travels alone, works through pain, and persists despite suspicion from others.
The story first appeared in 1838. Some translations use the name Eliza rather than Elisa, but “Elisa” is a common English rendering of the character’s name in editions based closely on the Danish text.