William Tell facts for kids
William Tell was a brave folk hero from Switzerland. His story tells how he stood up against a mean ruler. Many people believe his actions helped Switzerland become the country it is today.
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The Story of William Tell
William Tell lived in a time when his home was controlled by a powerful empire. The ruler, named Gessler, was very strict and unfair. He wanted everyone to show him respect.
The Hat and the Apple
Gessler put a hat on a pole in the middle of a town square. He ordered everyone to bow down to the hat as if it were him. William Tell was a proud man and refused to bow. Because of this, he was arrested.
Gessler gave William Tell a terrible choice. To save himself and his son, William had to shoot an apple off his son's head using a crossbow. If he missed, both would be killed. William Tell was an amazing shot. He took aim and fired, splitting the apple in two without harming his son.
A Hero for Freedom
Even though he saved his son, William Tell was still arrested. He later escaped and continued to fight for his people's freedom. His bravery inspired others to stand up against the unfair ruler. The story of William Tell became a symbol of courage and the fight for independence in Switzerland.
Adaptations of the Story
The exciting story of William Tell has been told in many ways over the years.
Famous Play and Opera
- The German writer Friedrich Schiller wrote a famous play called Wilhelm Tell.
- An Italian composer named Gioachino Rossini turned Schiller's play into a well-known opera called Guillaume Tell. The music from this opera is very famous!
Images for kids
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Tell is arrested for not saluting Gessler's hat (mosaic at the Swiss National Museum, Hans Sandreuter, 1901)
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A depiction of the apple-shot scene in Sebastian Münster's Cosmographia (1554 edition).
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An allegorical Tell defeating the chimera of the French Revolution (1798).
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Detail from the Statue of William Tell and his son in Altdorf (Richard Kissling, 1895).
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Wilhelm Tell by Ferdinand Hodler (1897)
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William Tell depicted on Tell pattern playing cards
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A 1782 depiction of Tell in the Schweizerisches Landesmuseum, Zürich.
See also
In Spanish: Guillermo Tell para niños
