Chapter: 12. The Elves And The Shoemaker
Fill in the Blanks / Sentence Completion
The shoemaker had worked hard all his life but wasn’t rich at all. The shoemaker went to bed with a light heart because his conscience was clear. The elves worked so fast that their hands couldn’t be seen and they didn’t stop until the shoes shone like diamonds. Short Answer Questions
What was the only remaining material the shoemaker had at the beginning of the story? The only remaining material the shoemaker had was enough leather to make one pair of shoes. How did the shoemaker react when he saw the perfectly made shoes for the first time? He was astonished and stood in wonder, sighing because the shoes were much better than his own work. What did the shoemaker and his wife do to finally see who was helping them? They decided to stay up all night and hide behind a curtain in their workshop to watch. How did the elves look when they first appeared, especially their clothing? The elves were tiny and their clothes were old, torn, and worn out. Long Answer / Critical Thinking Questions
Describe how the shoemaker’s life changed from being poor to becoming incredibly rich. What steps led to this transformation? At first, the shoemaker was poor and only had enough leather for one pair of shoes. After he prepared the leather, elves magically made perfect shoes overnight. He sold these shoes for a high price, which allowed him to buy more leather. This magical process repeated many times, leading to more sales and more leather, eventually making him and his wife incredibly rich with a long queue of customers outside their shop. Why do you think the elves stopped coming to help the shoemaker after they received their gifts? Explain your reasoning based on the story. The elves likely stopped coming because their mission was complete. They had helped the kind and hardworking shoemaker out of his poverty. Once the shoemaker and his wife showed their gratitude by making them new clothes and shoes, the elves felt their task was done and that they were sufficiently rewarded and appreciated, so they moved on. Imagine you are the shoemaker’s wife. How would you explain to your friends what happened to make you and your husband rich? What feelings would you share? (Student’s imaginative answer, but should include elements like): “You won’t believe it, friends! One morning, shoes were just made on the workbench! It was like magic! We were so surprised, but also so thankful. We stayed up one night and saw two tiny elves, working so fast! Our hearts filled with gratitude, especially seeing their worn clothes. We made them gifts, and they danced with joy! After that, they left, but we had become rich thanks to their kindness. I feel so blessed and endlessly grateful for their magical help!” 
Answer key