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Table of Contents
The Elves and the Shoemaker, a set of short stories, was first published in Germany in the book Grimm’s Fairy Tales by brothers Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm. The story is classified as a fairy tale, or belonging in the folklore genre. The first edition of Grimm’s Fairy Tales was published in 1812 and contained 86 stories.
See the fact file below for more information on the Grade 2 Literature: The Elves and the Shoemaker or alternatively, you can download our 53-page Grade 2 Literature: The Elves and the Shoemaker worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.
Key Facts & Information
BACKGROUND
- The Elves and the Shoemaker, a set of short stories, was first published in Germany in the book Grimm’s Fairy Tales by brothers Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm.
- The story is classified as a fairy tale, or belonging in the folklore genre.
- The first edition of Grimm’s Fairy Tales was published in 1812 and contained 86 stories.
THE STORY
- The Elves and the Shoemaker is a simple tale.
- It is about a poor shoemaker and his wife who have trouble keeping up with the demands of their shop.
- One day, they find that they are being helped in their shop from a mysterious source.
- Although they do not know who is helping them, they are becoming wealthy from all the help they are getting.
- One night, the shoemaker and his wife decide to stay up at night to see who is helping them.
- They soon discover that the helpers are little elves!
- The elves are working hard every night to finish making shoes.
- The shoemaker and his wife decide that they would like to show their thanks to the elves by making them some new clothes and shoes.
- That night, the shoemaker and his wife watch as the elves put on their new clothes and shoes and dance out of the house.
- The shoemaker and his wife do not see the elves in their shop again.
- From that point on, and until the end of their days, the shoemaker and his wife continued to be successful in their business despite not seeing the elves in their shop again.
- There was once a shoemaker, who worked very hard and was very honest: but still he was very poor; and all he had in the world was gone, except just enough leather to make one pair of shoes.
- So he cut his leather out, all ready to use the next day, meaning to rise early in the morning to his work. He went peaceably to bed, left all his cares to Heaven, and soon fell asleep. In the morning after he had said his prayers, he sat himself down to his work; when, to his great wonder, there stood the shoes all ready made, upon the table.
- The good man didn’t know what to say or think at such an odd thing happening. He looked at the workmanship; there was not one false stitch in the whole job; all was so neat and true, that it was quite a masterpiece.
- The same day a customer came in, and the shoes suited him so well that he willingly paid a price higher than usual for them; and the poor shoemaker, with the money, bought enough leather to make two more pairs. In the evening he cut out the work, and went to bed early, ready to work the next day; but he was saved all the trouble, for when he got up in the morning the work was done! Soon customers arrived, who paid him well for his goods, so that he bought enough leather to make four more pairs of shoes! He cut out the work again overnight and found it done in the morning, as before; and so it went on for some time: he got ready in the evening and the work was always done by daybreak. The good man soon became thriving and well off again.
- One evening, around Christmas-time, as he and his wife were sitting at the fire chatting together, he said to her, ‘I would like to sit up and watch tonight, so we might see who it is that comes and does my work for me.’
- The wife liked the thought; so they left a light burning, and hid themselves in a corner of the room, behind a curtain that was hung up there, and watched to see what would happen.
- As soon as it was midnight, two little elves came in; and they sat themselves on the shoemaker’s bench, and began to ply with their little fingers, stitching and rapping and tapping away at such a rate, that the shoemaker could not take his eyes off them. And on they went, till the job was done, and the shoes stood ready for use on the table. This was long before daybreak; and then they bustled away as quick as lightning.
- The next day the wife said to the shoemaker, ‘These little elves have made us rich, and we ought to be thankful to them, and do something nice for them. It is getting colder so I don’t want them to catch a cold or get sick. I will make each of them a shirt, and a coat and waistcoat, and a pair of pants; and you can make each of them a little pair of shoes. What do you think?’
- The thought pleased the cobbler very much; and one evening, when all the things were ready, they laid them on the table, instead of the work that they used to cut out, and then went and hid themselves, to watch what the little elves would do.
- About midnight in they came, dancing and skipping, and then went to sit down to their work as usual; but when they saw the clothes lying for them, they laughed and chuckled, and seemed delighted!
- Then they dressed themselves in the twinkling of an eye, and danced and sprang around, as merry as could be; till at last they danced out the door.
- The good couple saw them no more; but everything went well with them from that time forward, as long as they lived.
Grade 2 Literature: The Elves and the Shoemaker Worksheets
This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about the Grade 2 Literature: The Elves and the Shoemaker across 53 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Grade 2 Literature: The Elves and the Shoemaker worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the Elves and the Shoemaker, a set of short stories, which was first published in Germany in the book Grimm’s Fairy Tales by brothers Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm. The story is classified as a fairy tale, or belonging in the folklore genre. The first edition of Grimm’s Fairy Tales was published in 1812 and contained 86 stories.
Complete List Of Included Worksheets
- Lesson Plan and Overview
- The Elves and the Shoemaker
- Read and Respond
- Retelling the Story
- Sequencing the Story
- Main Messages
- All About the Characters
- Word Works
- Story Structure
- Point of View
- Understanding Illustrations
- Comparing Fairy Tales
- Enrichment Resources and Templates
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Link will appear as Grade 2 Literature: The Elves and the Shoemaker Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, October 20, 2020
Use With Any Curriculum
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