The Emperor's New Clothes

Important Words

 

 Imposters: - a person who pretends to be someone else in order to deceive others, especially for fraudulent gain.

Looms: - an apparatus for making fabric by weaving yarn or thread. 

Procession: - a number of people or vehicles moving forward in an orderly fashion, especially as part of a ceremony.

Affairs: - an event or sequence of events of a specified kind or that has previously been referred to.

Ridicule: - the subjection of someone or something to contemptuous and dismissive language or behaviour.

Blockhead: - a very stupid person.

Timid:-showing a lack of courage or confidence; easily frightened.

 

Objective Type Questions

 

 What was the emperor most fond of?

Ans: - Of new clothes

 What did the people call the Emperor?

Ans: - “Emperor in wardrobe”

 

 Who came to the emperor in the disguise of Weavers?

Ans:- Two imposters

 

 To whom would their cloth be invisible?

Ans: - To stupid or inefficient people

 

 Hoy did the emperor send next to see the cloth?

Ans: - A very able official

 

 Who cried ultimately that the emperor had nothing on?

Ans: - A little child

 

Short Answers

 

 What did the two weavers pretend to know?

Ans:- They pretended that they could make the most beautiful cloth. They also said that the clothes made from their cloth would be invisible to stupid or inefficient people

 

 What did the emperor think he could do by putting on those invisible clothes?

Ans: - The emperor thought that he could find out which of his ministers was unfit for their posts. He also thought that he would be able to tell the wise from the stupid.

 Why didn’t anybody say that the king was without clothes?

Ans: - Everybody was afraid of being thought inefficient or stupid.

 

 When did the emperor first put on those clothes?

Ans: - He put on those clothes on the eve of the procession.

 

Long Answers

 

Narrate in your own words how the two impostors succeeded in pulling the emperor and his people.

Ans: - There was an Emperor. He was too fond of new clothes. He spent all his money on clothes. He had a new dress for every hour of the day. But he did not care for his people. He only cared about his clothes. He was a show off. The people called him

“Emperor in Wardrobe”. The emperor was very foolish. His weakness for clothes made him a fool. Once two imposters came to his court. They played a trick on him.

They said that they could make very fine clothes. They also said that the clothes would be visible to wise person only. The foolish emperor was taken in. He thought that he would use those close to test the wisdom of his courtiers. So he ordered them to prepare the clothes for him. The imposters set up looms. That took from the emperor a lot of money, gold thread and silk. But they wove no clothes. They only pretended to be working on the empty looms. At last the imposter said that the clothes were ready. The emperor did not see any clothes but he did not speak out he was afraid that the people would call him stupid. So, he acted as pleased to see the new clothes. He put on those clothes. Then he went through the city in a procession.

The people so that the emperor was naked. But nobody had the courage to speak out the truth. Everybody praised the emperor’s new clothes. There was a little child in the crowd. He cried out that the emperor had nothing on. The people repeated what the child had said. The emperor realised the truth. He felt small, but it was too late.

Thus the imposters succeeded in pulling the emperor and his people.

 

From your study of the story ‘The Emperor’s new clothes ’what idea do you form about the character of the emperor?

Ans: - The emperor was very fond of new clothes. He had a new dress for every hour of the day. He was a big show off. The people nicknamed him Emperor in Wardrobe. He spent all his money and time on clothes.

He took no interest in his state affairs. He did not care about the welfare of his people. The Emperor’s weakness for clothes made him look like fool. Two imposters played upon his weakness. They fooled the emperor. They robbed him of his gold. They also made him go through the city all naked. Thus the emperor made himself the butt of ridicule. The emperor was blockhead. He could not know that the weavers were imposters. He believed whatever they said. He should not have worn such strange clothes himself. He should have tried them on some other person. The emperor himself doubted his fitness as a ruler. That is why he did not go to see the clothes while the weavers weaving. He sent his ministers instead. He stood before a large mirror after putting on the new clothes. In fact he was all naked but it did not have the courage to speak out the truth. Then he was timid. The emperor was not only foolish but also

Shameless. At the end of the procession he did come to know that he was naked. Yet he did not cover himself. He thought it is better to remain as he was. In short the emperor had no quality of an Emperor. He was worse than a clown even.

 

  

                                                                                                                                                                       

Summary

 

In this story, the Emperor loves fine clothing. Two men, swindlers, arrive in the city claiming to be the best weavers imaginable. They claim that the clothing they make is the finest with beautiful, intricate patterns. The swindlers say that this clothing is also magical and would appear invisible to anyone who was stupid or incompetent. The Emperor is excited about this amazing product, and he pays the men a huge sum to make these magnificent clothes. The swindlers then pretended to weave and sew the clothing with empty looms and needles without thread. The Emperor sends men to check on the swindler's work. When each man realizes he sees nothing, he does not want to admit it for fear he would be accused of being stupid and incompetent. So, each man lies to the Emperor, saying how the clothing was magnificent. The clothing is brought to the Emperor on the day of a great procession. The Emperor sees nothing, but he, too, did not want to admit to being stupid or incompetent, so he agrees that the clothing is exquisite. After being dressed in the invisible garments, the Emperor marches in the procession in front of his entire kingdom. Everyone in the kingdom sees the emperor without clothes, but for fear of being accused of being stupid or incompetent, they all sing the false praises of their

Emperor's fine clothing. Finally, a child says, ''But he doesn't have anything on!'' Everyone realizes that if an innocent child is saying this, then it must be true. Everyone starts exclaiming, ''He doesn't have anything on!'' The Emperor then finished the procession knowing that the people are right, and everyone knows he is wearing nothing but his pride.