大象传媒

Synopsis

Sir Derek Jacobi reads an adaptation of 'The Nightingale' by Hans Christian Andersen

The Emperor of China has a wonderful porcelain palace and a garden that goes on for miles. The garden leads to a great forest, in which a nightingale lives. The nightingale sings so beautifully that visiting travellers are moved to write about her song.

One day the emperor reads one of these written accounts and is surprised, for he has not heard the nightingale himself. He orders that the nightingale is brought to him, and a kitchen maid leads the Emperor's servants to where the bird can be found. They are surprised that the bird is so small and grey, but when she sings for the Emperor he is moved to tears. The nightingale is to live in a cage at the palace so that the Emperor can continue hearing her song.

One day the Emperor receives a clockwork, jewelled nightingale as a gift. It also sings well, but only one rather mechanical tune. The real nightingale escapes and flies back to the wood. The Emperor thinks this does not matter now that he has the mechanical nightingale, but he listens to it so much that it breaks down and can only be played once a year.

Soon the Emperor falls ill and is dying. He calls out for music, but there is nobody to wind the clockwork nightingale. The real nightingale returns to the trees outside and her song revives the Emperor. She sings to him about the people in the empire that he never meets and so he becomes a more informed and better Emperor.

Download a transcript of The Nightingale (pdf)

Curriculum guidance

Tales of Hans Christian Andersen can be used to target a range of Reading and Writing objectives from the KS2 National Curriculum programme of study for English across Y3 to Y6 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and Second Level of the Curriculum for Excellence in Scotland. Specific objectives include increasing pupils鈥 familiarity with a range of texts 鈥榠ncluding fairy stories鈥 and 鈥檛raditional stories鈥.

Pupils have the opportunity to listen to and read a selection of Andersen鈥檚 stories - especially adapted for the age group - and respond through a range of speaking and writing activities. Full details of curriculum links and follow up activities are included in the Teachers鈥 Notes.

Some of Hans Christian Andersen's tales have a dark and pessimistic theme. This means that careful selection of texts is required to ensure age-appropriateness. Please see the teachers' notes below for full synopses and suggestions for use in the classroom.

Download the Teachers' Notes for Tales of Hans Christian Andersen (pdf)

Background

  • First published in 1843, it is thought by many to be Andersen鈥檚 tribute to the opera singer Jenny Lind, with whom Andersen was in love.
  • It was unrequited, with Jenny thinking of Andersen as a brother, and herself being in love with the composer Chopin.

Reading / listening comprehension

  • Why do you think the Emperor had not heard the nightingale before?
  • Where will it be more appropriate to hear a nightingale鈥檚 song 鈥 inside the palace, or in the forest? Why?
  • In what ways does the clockwork nightingale compare to the real one? How is it different?
  • Why do you think the Emperor over-uses the clockwork nightingale, so much that it breaks down?
  • Why does the real nightingale return to the Emperor?
  • How will the nightingale鈥檚 song help him to be a better Emperor?

More from the series Tales of Hans Christian Andersen

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Penelope Wilton reads an adaptation of 'The Wild Swans' by Hans Christian Andersen.

5. The Wild Swans

7. The Ugly Duckling. audio

Penelope Wilton reads an adaptation of 'The Ugly Duckling' by Hans Christian Andersen.

7. The Ugly Duckling

8. The Fir Tree. audio

David Tennant reads an adaptation of 'The Fir Tree' by Hans Christian Andersen.

8. The Fir Tree