The Emperor’s New Clothes - 3 - Hans Christian Andersen Adaptation

Aug 20, 2026

Story materials for “The Emperor’s New Clothes” adapted from Hans Christian Andersen, originally published in 1837 as part of a fairy-tale collection. The synopsis follows a foolish emperor who prioritizes showing off new clothes while a pair of swindlers sells invisible magic fabric only fools cannot see. Classroom prompts guide students through motives for dishonesty, the child’s truthful observation, character actions, and theme exploration such as honesty vs. dishonesty and pomposity.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLiterature

FormatPDF

Pages2

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

Background

Synopsis

Sequence of events

Characters

Theme(s)

Understanding, interpreting and responding to texts

Additional text-specific activities

School Radio Tales of Hans Christian Andersen 3: The Emperor’s New Clothes Adapted by Rob John, read by Sir Derek Jacobi Background • First published in 1837, alongside The Little Mermaid, as part of Hans Christian Andersen’s third volume of Fairy Tales, Told for Children. • It was based on an earlier Spanish tale dating from medieval times. Synopsis A foolish emperor doesn’t spend any time doing the things an emperor ought to do – he is only interested in trying on new clothes and parading them in front of his people. One day two strangers arrive, offering the chance to try some magical cloth, which will be invisible to anyone who is a fool, or not fit for their job. The Emperor orders some cloth to be prepared, paying two bags of gold for it. The Chief Minister and a servant cannot see the cloth, but neither wants to admit to this lest they be regarded as no good at their jobs. The Emperor thinks the same thing, and orders a suit of clothes to be made,(atthe cost of more gold) . The cheating strangers help him into the imaginary clothes and he goes on a procession through the town. None of the townspeople want to admit that they can’t see the clothes, until a small boy pipes up that the Emperor has nothing on at all. This causes the rest of the crowd to start whispering and laughing – they realise the boy is right. The Emperor just carries on with his parade – thinking the people must all be fools. Sequence of events Suggestions for use include: cues for oral storytelling, support for storyboarding, story planning/writing etc. • Swindlers arrive at the palace • Swindlers convince Emperor that they can make magic cloth which is invisible to fools • Chief Minister and Servant pretend to see magic cloth • Emperor orders suit of magic cloth • Emperor parades new‘suit’ through the town • Small boy says what everyone is thinking – that the emperor is wearing nothing Characters • Emperor • Two Swindlers • Chief Minister • Servant • Small Boy • Small Boy’s Father Theme(s) • Honesty and dishonesty • Being true to what you think rather than going along with what others are saying • Foolishness and pomposity Understanding, interpreting and responding to texts • Describe the different reasons why first the minister, then the servant, then the Emperor and finally the townspeople pretend that they can see the Emperor’s clothes. • Why does the small boy’s father initially say that his son is wrong? • Why do you think it takes a child to point out what all the adults can see? 1 School Radio [www.bbc.co.uk/schoolradio](www.bbc.co.uk/schoolradio) © BBC 2011 School Radio Tales of Hans Christian Andersen • How do you think you would have acted if you had been… – …the minister? – …the Emperor? – …the small boy’s father? • Describe the two swindlers. What is their appearance? Who do you think the tall one might represent-and why? Additional text-specific activities • Create an advertising campaign for the amazing magic cloth – what else could you make from it and how would you advertise this? • Act out a news report from the procession. Does the reporter pretend to see the clothes? What happens when (s)he hears the small boy? • What would happen if the cloth really was magic? Re-write the story in such a way that only some people can see the cloth – who can’t see it and what happens as a result? • Freeze-frame the point where the Emperor is parading his new clothes. What is going on in the heads of the different characters – the Emperor, his courtiers, the swindlers, the small boy and his father • Thought tracking – follow on from the freeze frame moment with an individual character, showing how their thoughts progress. Location of episode transcript: [http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/schoolradio/pdfs/](http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/schoolradio/pdfs/)[ ](http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/schoolradio/pdfs/)[transcripts/the_emperors_new_clothes.pdf](tran

FAQs

Why do the minister, servant, and emperor pretend they can see the magic cloth?

Each fears admitting the truth would make them look incompetent. They continue to comply with the lie to protect their position.

What role does the small boy play in the story’s turning point?

The small boy openly states what everyone else is hiding, triggering the crowd to whisper and realize the emperor is wearing nothing.

What themes do the notes focus on?

The materials emphasize honesty and dishonesty, being true to one’s own thoughts, and the contrast between foolishness and pomposity.

Aug 20, 2026

Upload by Chloe Bennett