Which Hans Christian Andersen story follows eleven brothers transformed into swans?

Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Wild Swans” follows eleven brothers who are transformed into swans. Their sister Elisa must break the enchantment by making shirts from stinging nettles and remaining silent while she works.

The tale was first published in 1838 and draws on motifs found in European folktales, including enchanted siblings, a persecuted heroine and a difficult task requiring endurance. Andersen reshaped these traditional elements into his own literary version.

The brothers are not twelve swans: Elisa is the twelfth child and remains human while trying to save them. That detail is a common source of confusion because several other European tales feature twelve enchanted brothers or birds. The story combines supernatural transformation with a test of loyalty and family devotion.