The Pied Piper of Hamelin is a children’s classic legend passed down for generations. The story is based in a town named Hamelin in Germany. There are many versions of this story; the most popular one is the one we will read today. The story of the Pied Piper of Hamelin has been told and retold over generations, but the popular version has remained the same. Some see him as a beacon of hope, while some see him as a deceitful person. Read the full story of the Pied Piper of Hamelin in English to see what happens.
Origin And History Of The Pied Piper Of Hamelin
The earliest known version of the story originates from the town of Hamelin itself from a church in the 1300s. Although the church was destroyed in 1600, several versions of the story still survive. The phrase “pied piper” has become a famous metaphor for someone who attracts a following through false promises. However, there are many contradicting theories. Some say that the Pied Piper symbolised hope for the townspeople of Hamelin as he drove away the rats, saving them from a possible epidemic. The story is a classic legend that children worldwide love to read!
Story Type Of The Pied Piper Of Hamelin
The Pied Piper of Hamelin is a moral story that teaches little ones the importance of certain values like gratefulness and selflessness. This short story also teaches them not to be greedy and to give credit where due.
Story Characters
- Chief of Hamelin: He was one of the main characters who teaches the lesson of honesty through his actions.
- Townspeople of Hamelin: They form the backdrop in the plot of the story.
- Pied Piper: He is the main character in this story who rescues the town through his charm.
- Children: They form an important element in the story as the means of teaching the Chief a lesson.
The Pied Piper of Hamelin Story for Children
A long time ago, there was a town called Hamelin. The people of Hamelin had a massive problem of rat infestation. They tried everything to get rid of the rats, but nothing seemed to work. There were rats of every shape and size; even the cats could not do anything. The Chief of the town called a meeting and said, “Anyone who can get rid of the rats will be rewarded with ten sacks of gold.”
One day, a stranger from a faraway land arrived in Hamelin. He was dressed in colourful clothes, wore a feather in his hat, and carried a pipe. The piper said, “I will get rid of the rats for you!” The man then started playing an odd but wonderful tune on his pipe. The rats in the town heard his music and started getting attracted to him. The stranger walked through Hamelin’s streets, playing his pipe and attracting more rats toward him.
The clever man took all the rats to a river, where the rats drowned one by one. Hamelin was finally freed from rats! The Pied Piper went back to collect his reward. However, now that their problem was solved, the townspeople no longer wanted to pay him the money. This made the Pied Piper angry, and he decided to punish the town.
The Pied Piper began playing his pipe once again. This time, all the children of the town began running towards him. Every girl and boy started running towards his pipe’s music.
The Piper took them all to a cave outside the town and closed the cave entrance with a huge rock. Only two children were left behind, one had an injured leg, and the other was deaf. The two children quickly went and told the townspeople what had happened. “Look! Look! All the children are gone… They all followed the Pied Piper and left the town. We saw him take the children to a cave outside the town.”
The townspeople were terrified and ashamed of what had happened. They went to the cave and begged the Pied Piper for his forgiveness. “Please return our children to their homes. We will give you the 20 sacks of gold as promised.”
Finally, the Pied Piper let the children go. The people of Hamelin learned never to be ungrateful and greedy. The Pied Piper disappeared, never to be seen again. However, they say that sometimes if you listen very closely, you can still hear the piper’s beautiful tune playing!
Story Summary
Here is a summary of the Pied Piper Of Hamelin.
The town of Hamelin suffered from a huge rat problem. The townspeople had tried everything to try to get rid of the rats, but nothing seemed to work. The Chief of the town called a meeting and promised ten sacks of gold to anyone who could get rid of the rat problem.
One day, a stranger arrived from a faraway land. He was dressed in colourful clothes and carried a beautiful pipe with him. He promised to get rid of the rats and started playing a tune on his pipe. Immediately the rats in the city started getting attracted to the sound of the pipe. He then took all the rats to a nearby river, where the rats drowned. After getting rid of the rats, the piper returned to the Chief to collect his reward. However, the townspeople refused to give the piper his reward.
The piper started playing his pipe again, only this time, the town’s children started following him. He took them to a cave outside the town and then closed the entrance with a big rock. Two children, one injured and the other deaf, were the only ones left behind. They informed the townspeople about what had happened. The townspeople felt very scared and ashamed of what had happened. They started begging the piper for his forgiveness. They also promised him 20 sacks of gold.
Finally, the piper decided to let the children go, and the townspeople learnt never to be ungrateful or greedy again. The Pied Piper then disappeared, never to be seen again.
Moral Of The Story
The moral of the story is ‘never be ungrateful”. From the story of the Pied Piper of Hamelin, children can learn about the importance of honesty as opposed to deceit. It teaches children never to fall into traps and to think rationally before acting upon anything.
How Can Children Apply the Moral Lesson of the Story In Their Real Life?
Children should learn not to be ungrateful or greedy. You can teach your little ones through this short story with pictures to be grateful for their things and the people around them. They should especially be grateful for people that make their life easier. i.e., house helps, teachers and others. Children need to learn not to be greedy and to readily share their things with people in need. We share this world, and hence it is essential that we understand important values like sharing. Without values, our world would surely be a train wreck!
Also Read:
Story Of The Three Pigs with Moral for Children
Monkey And The Cap Seller Moral Story for Kids
Story Of The King And His Ghost for Kids with Moral
