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10 знаменитых строк из произведения The Emperor’s New Clothes (1837) автора Hans Christian Andersen — дословно, с объяснением смысла и указанием источника.

Чтение: 7 мин

1. 1

   Many, many years ago lived an emperor, who thought so much of new clothes that he spent all his money in order to obtain them; his only ambition was to be always well dressed.

   Значение: The emperor values fashionable clothes above everything else and spends extravagantly to maintain his appearance.

   NarratorАбзац 1Копировать
2. 2

   Their colours and patterns, they said, were not only exceptionally beautiful, but the clothes made of their material possessed the wonderful quality of being invisible to any man who was unfit for his office or unpardonably stupid.

   Значение: The supposed fabric promises to reveal stupidity or incompetence, making people's judgment of clothing a test of their social worth.

   NarratorАбзац 2Копировать
3. 3

   The poor old minister tried his very best, but he could see nothing, for there was nothing to be seen.

   Значение: The minister's inability to see the fabric reflects its nonexistence, not any failing in his intelligence.

   NarratorАбзац 6Копировать
4. 4

   “What is this?” thought the emperor, “I do not see anything at all. That is terrible! Am I stupid? Am I unfit to be emperor?

   Значение: The emperor doubts his own intelligence and fitness to rule rather than questioning the weavers' claims.

   The emperorАбзац 16Копировать

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5. 5

   “They are all as light as a cobweb, and one must feel as if one had nothing at all upon the body; but that is just the beauty of them.”

   Значение: The swindlers present the absence of clothing as proof of its exceptional quality.

   The swindlersАбзац 19Копировать
6. 6

   Nobody wished to let others know he saw nothing, for then he would have been unfit for his office or too stupid. Never emperor’s clothes were more admired.

   Значение: Fear of appearing foolish makes the crowd praise clothes that nobody can see.

   NarratorАбзац 27Копировать
7. 7

   “But he has nothing on at all,” said a little child at last.

   Значение: The child states the obvious truth without worrying about status or other people's opinions.

   A little childАбзац 28Копировать
8. 8

   “But he has nothing on at all,” cried at last the whole people.

   Значение: Once the child's observation spreads, the crowd openly admits what everyone could already see.

   The crowdАбзац 28Копировать
9. 9

   That made a deep impression upon the emperor, for it seemed to him that they were right; but he thought to himself, “Now I must bear up to the end.”

   Значение: The emperor recognizes the crowd may be right but continues the procession rather than openly admitting his mistake.

   Narrator and the emperorАбзац 28Копировать
10. 10

    And the chamberlains walked with still greater dignity, as if they carried the train which did not exist.

    Значение: The attendants preserve the appearance of royal dignity even after the deception has been publicly exposed.

    NarratorАбзац 28Копировать

Вопросы об этих строках

Who points out that the emperor is wearing no clothes?

A little child first says it openly. The observation spreads through the crowd until everyone voices the truth.

What does the phrase the emperor's new clothes mean?

It describes something widely praised or accepted despite obvious flaws, because people fear challenging authority, contradicting others, or looking foolish.