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The Ivory Door facts for kids

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The Ivory Door is a play written by A. A. Milne. He is famous for creating Winnie-the-Pooh. This play has three acts. It takes place in a make-believe castle and the land around it.

Story of the Play

Act One: The King's Secret Door

The play starts with an old king in his private room. His young son, Perival, comes in. They talk about important things. These include love, getting married, and how to rule a kingdom. They also talk about how everyone eventually dies.

Then, their talk turns to a hidden door. It is behind a tapestry. Perival has heard rumors about this door. People say that anyone who goes through the ivory door will be killed. They believe demons live inside the passage. The king tells Perival he doesn't know if the rumors are true. He has never been through the door himself. He also doesn't know anyone who has. The king shows Perival the door. He warns his son not to mess with things he doesn't understand. This warning is for when Perival becomes king.

Act Two: Perival's Journey

Now, Perival is a young man. He has become king after his father's death. He is worried about his upcoming marriage. He is set to marry Princess Lillia. She is the daughter of a king from a nearby land. Perival has never met her.

His chief guard, Baram, tries to comfort him. Baram says it's normal to be nervous. He suggests Perival do something to take his mind off it. King Perival decides to go through the ivory door. Baram agrees, but only if Perival promises to return in three hours. If he doesn't, he will be declared dead.

Behind the door, Perival finds a tunnel. His clothes get dirty and torn as he walks. But he is not hurt. He comes out into bright sunlight. He is next to a river. He decides to walk back to the castle. On his way, he sees some mummers. These are traveling performers. They are going to the castle for the wedding.

Then, Perival hears alarm bells from the castle. A crier is announcing the king's death. He rushes back to the castle. But no one recognizes him. His clothes are torn and dirty. When he says he is the King, they call him a fake. He explains he went through the tunnel. But Baram calls him a "demon." He orders Perival's arrest.

Princess Lillia then confronts Baram. She demands to know why the king was arrested. Baram says it wasn't the king. He claims it was a demon. This demon came from behind the ivory door. It was trying to pretend to be the king. Lillia believes the stories about the door are silly. Before Baram can stop her, she opens the door. She walks right through it.

Act Three: The Truth Revealed

Lillia is now dirty and wearing torn clothes. She is thrown into Perival's dungeon cell. They don't recognize each other at first. They have never met before. But soon, they realize who they are. They are the king and his future wife.

They are eventually let out of the cell. They are taken to the throne room. Baram is standing there before a big crowd. Baram accuses Lillia and Perival of being demons. Perival insists there is nothing behind the ivory door. He says it's just a normal passage. But no one listens to Perival.

Later, Baram talks to Perival and Lillia privately. He tells them he knows who they are. But the people are too scared of the ivory door. They believe in the demons. They want to kill Perival and Lillia. Perival says he knows there are no demons. He didn't see any in the passage. Baram replies, "Do not take our stories away!"

Baram says he will try to save their lives. But they must leave and never come back. Lillia protests. She is a princess and knows nothing about surviving on her own. Perival probably isn't much better. Baram says he is sure they will find a way. They have seen the truth. Perival says at least he and Lillia will be together. But Lillia points out they just met. If they aren't marrying for politics, they should see if they like each other first. Baram takes over as "Protector of the Kingdom." He orders the "demons" to be sent away.

Some versions of the play have an extra part. In it, an old man wearing a king's crown listens. A young boy asks him if the stories are true. The boy asks about Baram the Great. He asks how Baram saved the kingdom from demons.

What the Play Teaches Us

The Ivory Door makes you think about stories and beliefs. Perival and Lillia are brave. They learn the truth about a long-held myth. The play encourages us to question things. It asks us to look at stories we believe. Are they always true?

The play also makes us wonder about Baram. Is he a hero? He keeps the peace and order. Or is he a villain? He keeps a lie going, even if he means well. It also makes us think about why societies have myths. What role do these stories play, even if they are not facts?

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