About the The pied piper of Hamelin story
“The pied piper of Hamelin” is a German legend about a town plagued by rats. The Pied Piper, with his magical flute, promises to rid the town of the rats, but when the townspeople break their promise to pay him, they learn a costly lesson.
First recorded in the 1300s and popularized by the Brothers Grimm, this story shows the consequences of broken promises. In this article, we share two versions: the full tale and a simplified graded reader for younger learners. Fun questions at the end help reinforce vocabulary and comprehension.
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Let’s leap into the world of Hamelin and see how music and magic lead to a powerful lesson!
The story of “The pied piper of Hamelin”
Once upon a time, the town of Hamelin was facing a terrible problem—it was overrun with rats. The streets, houses, and markets were filled with rats, and no one could get rid of them. The people of Hamelin were desperate for a solution. The mayor and the town leaders tried everything—traps, poison, and even cats—but nothing worked.
Just when all hope seemed lost, a mysterious stranger arrived in Hamelin. He was dressed in brightly colored clothes, and he carried a flute. He introduced himself as the Pied Piper and told the mayor, “I can rid your town of rats, but I want a reward—one thousand gold coins.”
The mayor, eager to save the town, quickly agreed. “If you can get rid of all the rats, you will have your gold,” the mayor promised.
The magical music
The Pied Piper stepped into the middle of town, lifted his flute to his lips, and began to play a strange, enchanting melody. As soon as the music filled the air, something incredible happened—the rats began to emerge from every corner of Hamelin. They scurried out of houses, barns, and cellars, all mesmerized by the Piper’s tune.
The Piper walked through the streets, playing his flute, and the rats followed him in a long line. He led them to the river Weser, and one by one, the rats plunged into the water and were swept away by the current. Not a single rat remained in Hamelin.
The people cheered, and the Pied Piper returned to the mayor for his reward.
A broken promise
But now that the rats were gone, the mayor and the townspeople grew greedy. “One thousand gold coins is too much,” they said. “We’ll only pay you fifty.”
The Pied Piper was furious. “You promised me one thousand gold coins! If you don’t pay me what you owe, you will regret it.”
The mayor laughed. “What will you do? The rats are gone, and we have no need of you anymore!”
Without another word, the Pied Piper lifted his flute and began to play a different, more haunting melody. This time, instead of rats, it was the children of Hamelin who were enchanted by the music. Mesmerized by the sound, the children of the town followed the Pied Piper just as the rats had. The Piper led them through the streets and out of the town, heading toward a mountain.
The parents and townspeople, realizing what was happening, begged the Piper to stop, offering him the gold they had promised. But the Piper ignored them and continued playing.
The Piper and the children disappeared into the mountain, and they were never seen again. Some say the children were taken to a magical land, while others say they were lost forever. Only one child, who was lame and couldn’t keep up, remained behind to tell the tale.
The moral of “The pied piper of Hamelin”
Always keep your promises, or you may face serious consequences.
The people of Hamelin learned that breaking a promise can lead to disaster. Their greed cost them dearly, and the story teaches us that honesty and fairness are essential. The Pied Piper’s revenge shows that deception can lead to tragic results.
Questions about “The pied piper of Hamelin”
- What problem was the town of Hamelin facing?
- What did the Pied Piper ask for in return for getting rid of the rats?
- How did the Pied Piper get rid of the rats in Hamelin?
- What did the mayor do after the rats were gone?
- What happened to the children when the Pied Piper returned?
Answers
- The town of Hamelin was overrun with rats.
- The Pied Piper asked for one thousand gold coins in exchange for getting rid of the rats.
- The Pied Piper played a magical tune on his flute, and the rats followed him to the river, where they drowned.
- The mayor refused to pay the Pied Piper the full amount and offered him only fifty coins instead.
- The Pied Piper played another tune, and the children of Hamelin followed him out of the town, never to be seen again.
Words to learn
- Pied Piper: A character who plays a magical flute and leads the rats and children of Hamelin away. “Pied” refers to his colorful clothes.
- Flute: A musical instrument that the Piper used to cast his magical spell. The Piper played his flute to enchant the rats and children.
- Rats: Small, unwelcome rodents. The town of Hamelin was overrun with rats.
- Mayor: The leader of the town. The mayor promised the Piper a reward but then broke his promise.
- Enchanted: Put under a magical spell. The Piper’s music enchanted the rats and children, causing them to follow him.
What type of story is “The pied piper of Hamelin”?
The Pied Piper of Hamelin is a legend, a traditional story that has been passed down through generations, often with mysterious or supernatural elements.
Who wrote “The pied piper of Hamelin”?
The story of The Pied Piper of Hamelin was made famous by the Brothers Grimm, who collected and published the tale. It has also been retold by many other authors throughout history. Learn more about the Brothers Grimm here.
When was “The pied piper of Hamelin” first told?
The earliest version of The Pied Piper of Hamelin dates back to the Middle Ages, around the year 1284. The story was later popularized in the 19th century by the Brothers Grimm.
Who are the main characters in “The pied piper of Hamelin”?
The main characters are the Pied Piper, the mayor, the people of Hamelin, and the children of the town.
What lesson can we learn from “The pied piper of Hamelin”?
We learn that it’s important to keep promises and be fair, because breaking a promise can lead to serious and unexpected consequences. The story also reminds us that greed can cause more harm than good.
”The pied piper of Hamelin” story for young English learners (ages 2-5, Pre-A1 graded reader)
Long ago, there was a town called Hamelin. It was a nice place to live, but it had a big problem. The town was full of rats!
The rats were everywhere. They ate people’s food and made everyone sick. The people of Hamelin were very unhappy.
One day, a strange man came to town. He wore bright clothes with many colors. He carried a small pipe. This man was called the Pied Piper.
The Pied Piper went to see the mayor. He said, “I can solve your rat problem. If you pay me, I will make all the rats leave Hamelin.”
The mayor was excited. He said, “Yes! Please help us. We will pay you well.”
The Pied Piper walked through the streets of Hamelin. He began to play his pipe. The music was soft and sweet. Suddenly, all the rats in town came out of hiding. They followed the Pied Piper as he walked.
The Pied Piper led the rats out of town. He took them to a river, where they all jumped in and swam away. Hamelin was free of rats!
The people were very happy. But when the Pied Piper went to get his payment, the mayor refused. “We won’t pay you,” he said. “The rats are gone. You can’t bring them back.”
The Pied Piper was angry. He said, “You will be sorry.” Then he left the town.
The next day, the Pied Piper returned. He played his pipe again. This time, all the children of Hamelin followed him. He led them out of town, just like the rats.
The parents were very sad. They begged the mayor to pay the Pied Piper. But it was too late. The Pied Piper and the children were gone forever.
The people of Hamelin learned a hard lesson. They knew they should have kept their promise and paid the Pied Piper.
The end.
Fun fact!
Did you know? Some historians believe that “The pied piper of Hamelin” might be based on a real event that happened in the German town of Hamelin in the year 1284, when a group of children mysteriously disappeared. The true cause of the event is still unknown!
