Why did the king wear simple clothes and leave his bodyguard behind before meeting the hermit?
Answer
The king wore simple clothes and left his bodyguard behind because the hermit lived in a wood, met only common people, and the king did not want to reveal his royal identity.
Step-by-step solution
- Step 1: Identify the character traits of the hermit: He was a simple, wise man who lived in a forest and never left it.
- Step 2: Recall the rule the hermit followed regarding visitors: He received no one but ordinary, common folk.
- Step 3: Connect this to the king's strategy: To meet the hermit and get answers, the king had to disguise himself as a commoner, leaving his horses and bodyguard behind to maintain his disguise.
Common mistake: Assuming the king left his bodyguard behind out of fear or to travel faster, rather than to avoid showing his royal status to the hermit.
Concept tested: Character motives and contextual actions in 'Three Questions'
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