An old king learns which of his three daughters truly loves him when he asks them to prove their love with words.
Author: William Shakespeare
Themes: love, honesty, family, wisdom
Once upon a time, there lived a great and powerful king named Lear. He was old and tired after many years of ruling his kingdom, and he longed to rest and spend his remaining days with his three beloved daughters: Goneril, Regan, and Cordelia.
King Lear gathered his daughters in the great throne room. "My dear children," he announced, "I shall divide my kingdom among you. But first, tell me—how much do you love me?"
Goneril stepped forward with a grand bow. "Father, I love you more than words can say! More than all the gold in the world, more than the stars in the sky!" The king smiled, pleased by such pretty words, though they were not truly from her heart.
Regan hurried to speak next. "Dear Father, I love you even more than my sister does! You are my entire world!" Once again, the king beamed with joy at these sweet but hollow words.
Finally, it was Cordelia's turn. "Father," she said softly, "I love you as a daughter should love her father—truly and with all my heart. I cannot lie or make up fancy words like my sisters." The king's face darkened with disappointment.
"If that is all you have to say," said the angry king, "then you shall have nothing!" He gave the entire kingdom to Goneril and Regan, and poor Cordelia was sent away. A wise prince from France saw her goodness and made her his queen.
But soon, the king discovered the truth about his older daughters. Goneril and Regan, now that they had everything, treated their father with unkindness. They would not let him keep his servants or even give him a warm place to stay.
Poor King Lear wandered alone on a cold, stormy night, finally understanding his terrible mistake. He had been fooled by fancy words while pushing away the daughter who loved him most truly.
When Cordelia heard of her father's troubles, she immediately came to help him. She found him cold and hungry, and with the kindest heart, she welcomed him with open arms and forgave him for his mistake.
"Can you ever forgive me, my dear Cordelia?" asked the old king with tears in his eyes. "There is nothing to forgive, Father," she replied. "True love needs no fancy words—only a true heart." And at last, King Lear understood what real love meant.
Introduction
King Lear and His Three Daughters is a gentle retelling of Shakespeare's famous play, adapted for young readers. This timeless story teaches children about the difference between true love and flattery. When an old king asks his daughters to prove their love with words, he learns that those who speak the sweetest aren't always the most sincere—and that honest, simple love is worth more than all the fancy words in the world.
About William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare (1564-1616) was an English playwright and poet, often called the greatest writer in the English language. He wrote about 37 plays and hundreds of poems. His stories explore love, jealousy, ambition, and family—themes that still matter to us today. Many of his plays, like King Lear, Romeo and Juliet, and A Midsummer Night's Dream, have been adapted for children.
The Moral of the Story
True love speaks with honest words, not flattery. This story teaches children that people who say the nicest things aren't always the ones who mean them. Cordelia loved her father truly but spoke simply, while her sisters said beautiful words without meaning them. In the end, honest love proved to be the most valuable of all.
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King Lear and His Three Daughters
King Lear and His Three Daughters is a gentle retelling of Shakespeare's famous play, adapted for young readers. This timeless story teaches children about the difference between true love and flattery. When an old king asks his daughters to prove their love with words, he learns that those who speak the sweetest aren't always the most sincere—and that honest, simple love is worth more than all the fancy words in the world.
Origin of This Classic Story
King Lear is one of the greatest plays written by William Shakespeare around 1606. The original story is quite sad and dramatic, written for adults. This version has been carefully adapted for children, keeping the beautiful message about true love and honesty while making it appropriate and hopeful for young readers. The story teaches us that actions speak louder than words.
About William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare (1564-1616) was an English playwright and poet, often called the greatest writer in the English language. He wrote about 37 plays and hundreds of poems. His stories explore love, jealousy, ambition, and family—themes that still matter to us today. Many of his plays, like King Lear, Romeo and Juliet, and A Midsummer Night's Dream, have been adapted for children.
The Moral of the Story
True love speaks with honest words, not flattery. This story teaches children that people who say the nicest things aren't always the ones who mean them. Cordelia loved her father truly but spoke simply, while her sisters said beautiful words without meaning them. In the end, honest love proved to be the most valuable of all.
honesty
true love
sincerity
forgiveness
family loyalty
Learning Activities
Engage children with these fun activities based on King Lear:
🎨Draw the three sisters - how would you show who is kind and who is pretending?
💬Discuss: Why is it important to mean what we say?
✨Role-play: Practice telling someone you love them in simple, honest words
📝Write a letter from Cordelia to her father explaining her feelings
Frequently Asked Questions
❓What is the moral of King Lear?
The main lesson is that true love doesn't need fancy words—honest, simple love is more valuable than flattery. We should judge people by their actions, not just their words.
❓Is this the original Shakespeare story?
This is a gentle adaptation for children. The original play is quite tragic and meant for adults. This version keeps the beautiful message about true love while making it appropriate for young readers.
❓Why did Cordelia refuse to flatter her father?
Cordelia loved her father too much to lie to him. She believed that true love should be shown through honest words and actions, not through exaggerated flattery like her sisters.
