12. The Elves And The Shoemaker (WIP)
Story
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Chapter: 12. The Elves And The Shoemaker
Literary Appreciation
This magical tale, “The Elves and the Shoemaker,” is a wonderful example of a fairy tale. Fairy tales are special stories that often teach us important lessons about life, good deeds, and kindness, sometimes with a touch of magic! They show us that good things can happen to good people, and that being thankful and generous can bring great happiness. This story helps us appreciate the idea that even small acts of kindness can have a huge, positive impact.
Summary of the Story
“The Elves and the Shoemaker” is about a poor, honest shoemaker and his wife who have very little money. One night, the shoemaker cuts out leather for his last pair of shoes, leaving it on his workbench. The next morning, he is amazed to find the shoes perfectly made! He sells them for a good price and buys more leather. This magical event repeats, and soon, the shoemaker and his wife become very rich. Curious, they decide to stay up one night and discover who is helping them. They see two tiny elves, dressed in old, torn clothes, working incredibly fast to make the shoes. Feeling grateful and kind, the couple decides to make new clothes and shoes for the elves. The elves are overjoyed with their gifts, try them on, dance happily, and then disappear, never to return. The shoemaker and his wife live a long, happy, and wealthy life, always remembering the kindness of the elves.
A Detailed Explanation of Each Scene
Scene 1: The Poor but Honest Shoemaker
We meet a shoemaker and his wife who are very poor, even though the shoemaker works very hard. They have a shop where they make and sell shoes, but they are struggling. One evening, they have only enough leather left to make one last pair of shoes. The shoemaker cuts the leather and prepares it for the next day, trusting that everything will be okay. He goes to bed with a clear conscience, meaning he feels good about his honest work and lets go of his worries.
Scene 2: A Wonderful Surprise
The next morning, the shoemaker wakes up and goes to his workbench, ready to start. But to his great surprise, the leather he left out is gone! Instead, there is a brand new, perfectly made pair of shoes sitting there. He inspects them carefully, looking for any mistakes, but the shoes are a masterpiece – flawless and beautiful, even better than he could make himself! He and his wife are astonished and wonder how this could have happened.
Scene 3: Good Fortune Begins
While the couple admires the mysterious shoes, some boys come into the shop and immediately buy the perfect pair for twice the usual price! The shoemaker is overjoyed. With the extra money, he can now buy enough leather for two pairs of shoes instead of just one. He cuts the leather and goes to bed, hoping for the best.
Scene 4: The Mystery Continues and Wealth Grows
The next morning, the same amazing thing happens! The two new pairs of shoes are perfectly made on his workbench. This continues for a long time: the shoemaker cuts leather at night, and by morning, beautiful, finished shoes are waiting for him. Because of this magical help, the shoemaker and his wife become not just comfortable, but incredibly rich! Their shop is always busy with a long line of customers.
Scene 5: Uncovering the Secret Helpers
The shoemaker and his wife are very grateful for their good fortune, but they are also very curious. They decide they must find out who their mysterious helpers are. One night, they decide to stay awake and hide behind a curtain in their workshop, watching to see what happens. The wife also suggests leaving out some milk and cookies, perhaps as a thank you.
Scene 6: The Elves at Work
At midnight, two tiny elves appear! They are dressed in old, worn, and torn clothes. They immediately sit down at the workbench and begin to work on the leather. They work incredibly fast, sewing and stitching so quickly that their hands are a blur. They don’t stop for a second until all the shoes are finished and shining like diamonds. Just before daybreak, they disappear into thin air.
Scene 7: A Plan to Show Gratitude
The shoemaker and his wife are amazed and touched by what they have seen. They realize the elves are helping them, and they feel a deep sense of gratitude. They also notice how cold and worn the elves’ clothes are. The wife suggests they should do something kind for the elves in return, just as the elves have been kind to them. They decide to make new, warm clothes and tiny, perfect shoes for the elves. The shoemaker cuts out the material for the clothes, and the wife sews them.
Scene 8: The Elves’ Happy Departure
The next night, the shoemaker and his wife place the new clothes and shoes on the workbench. They hide again to see the elves’ reaction. When the elves arrive, they are surprised not to find leather, but they are absolutely delighted to see the gifts! They quickly put on their new clothes and shoes, dance around joyfully, singing about how nice they look. Feeling happy and content, they leave the house that night without doing any work. The elves never return again, but the shoemaker and his wife continue to live happily and wealthily ever after, always remembering the magical kindness they received.
Theme and Moral of the Story
Theme:
Moral:
The main moral of “The Elves and the Shoemaker” is that good deeds are always rewarded, and kindness spreads happiness. When you are kind and generous to others, good things will often come back to you. It also teaches us the importance of showing gratitude and appreciation for the help we receive, no matter how big or small.
Author Spotlight: The Grimm Brothers
“The Elves and the Shoemaker” was collected and written down by two very famous brothers from Germany: Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, often known as The Grimm Brothers.
These brothers weren’t just writers; they were also librarians who loved listening to stories that ordinary people told their children and friends. They traveled around, listening carefully to these old folktales and fairy tales that had been passed down from one generation to the next. They then wrote them down so that everyone could read and enjoy them.
Thanks to the Grimm Brothers, we have many beloved stories that we still read today! Some of their other famous tales include “Hansel and Gretel,” “Little Red Riding Hood,” “Cinderella,” “Rapunzel,” and “Snow White.” They helped make sure these magical stories would be remembered and loved for hundreds of years.
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