The Emperor's Magic Clothes
Once upon a time, there was an emperor who loved new clothes more than anything else in the world. One day, two swindlers arrived in his city, claiming they were weavers who could make a magical fabric, invisible to anyone who was foolish or unfit for their job.
The emperor was delighted and gave them a great deal of gold. The swindlers set up empty looms and took the gold for themselves. After a while, the emperor sent his old minister to see the fabric. The minister saw nothing, but he was afraid to admit it and be thought a fool, so he went back and told the emperor the cloth was magnificent.
The emperor then went to see for himself. He looked and looked, but he also saw nothing. He felt a cold dread and thought, "Am I a fool, or unfit to be emperor?" So he pretended to be amazed and said, "What marvelous clothes!" Everyone with him said the same thing.
The day of the great procession arrived, and the emperor "put on" his new clothes. He walked proudly through the streets, and everyone in the crowd applauded and shouted, "How beautiful the emperor's new clothes are!" No one wanted to admit that they saw nothing at all.
But suddenly, a little child from the crowd cried out in a loud, clear voice, "But the emperor isn't wearing anything!" A hush fell for a moment, then people began to whisper, until everyone was shouting, "The emperor isn't wearing anything!" The emperor knew they were right, but his pride stopped him from admitting it. So he continued to walk, even more stiffly, as his servants carried the train of a robe that wasn't there.
Moral Values and Lessons
- The Importance of Speaking the Truth: The courage to speak the truth, even when it's awkward, is precious.
- The Danger of Vanity and Pride: Pride can blind us to the truth and lead us into ridiculous situations.
- Don't Follow the Crowd Blindly: It's important to trust your own eyes and think for yourself, rather than just agreeing with everyone.
- The Power of Innocence: Sometimes, innocence can see a truth that adults are too afraid to admit.
Comprehension Questions
- What did the emperor love more than anything?
- What was the trick the two swindlers used?
- Why did the minister and the emperor pretend they could see the clothes?
- Who was the first person to speak the truth out loud?
- What did the emperor do after he knew the truth?
Critical Thinking Questions
- Why were all the grown-ups so afraid to tell the truth?
- Do you think the child was being brave, or did he just not know to be afraid?
- What makes someone "unfit" to be a ruler: not being able to see magic clothes, or being too proud to admit a mistake?
Questions to Connect the Story to Daily Life
- Have you ever pretended to like something just because all your friends liked it?
- Why is it sometimes scary to be the only one with a different opinion?
- Is it more important to be honest or to be polite? Can you be both?
Fun Activities
- Draw: Draw the great procession. Show the emperor in his "invisible" clothes, his servants holding the imaginary train, and the little child pointing.
- Invisible Fashion Show: Create your own "invisible" outfit! Use mime to put on your amazing clothes, describing the imaginary colors and fabrics to your family.
- The Whisper Game: Start a whisper with the sentence "The emperor has no clothes!" and pass it down a line of people. See how the sentence changes. This shows how a truth can spread.