Lesson 35 – The King of the Golden River
Part II
enterprise: activity, business
crucible: a container in which something in heated to a high temperature
tilted: moved into a position where one side is higher than the other
pray: please
dwarf: an imaginary creature that looks like a small man
enchantment: effect of magic.
parched: very dry
staff: a long thick stick
Things to do
1. Describe the following in short:
(a) Treasure Valley
Ans: It always rained in the Treasure Valley, the winds and the clouds made the crops green, the hay high, the apples red, the grapes purple and the honey sweet.
(b) South-West Wind, Esquire
Ans: The strange gentleman was South-West Wind, Equire. He was very short, with a large nose, red cheeks, curly moustache and merry twinkling eyes. He wore a conical cap and a cloak four times long.
(c) The Black Brothers
Ans: Hans and Schwartz were called as the ‘Black Brothers’ by the people of the valley. They were wicked farmers and killed everything that was not profitable to them. They did not treat their servants well and gave them poor wages.
(d) Gluck
Ans: He was the youngest of the three brothers. He was only twelve years old. He was kind to every living thing. He did all the cooking and the mending and the house work for his brothers.
(e) The golden mug
Ans: The golden mug was very beautiful and belonged to Gluck. His uncle had given it to him when he was a baby. He was very fond of the mug and used to drink both milk and water from it. A strange, bearded face was delicately carved on the mug.
2. Which of the characters in the story do you like the most? If you could meet that character in person, what questions would you ask?
Ans: I like the character of Gluck the most in the story. If I could meet the character of Gluck in person, I would ask him:
(1) Will you be my friend?
(2) How can you be so nice and good to everyone?
(3) What is your aim in life?
(4) What do you wish for yourself?
3. Which of the events in the story do you like the most? Write about that event in a few lines.
Ans: The liked the most was the event where the Black Brothers were swept away with a rolling pin by the stranger into the corner. The stranger was actually the South-West Wind, Esquire. I wonder how the Black Brothers must have felt to be defeated by the short stranger. They were bad in behaviour with others and therefore they got a good lesson.
(1) Will you be my friend?
(2) How can you be so nice and good to everyone?
(3) What is your aim in life?
(4) What do you wish for yourself?
4. Form a group. As a group activity, dramatize any one event in the story. Read aloud in your group, the playlet/conversation you have written
Ans: Students should do this on their own.
5. Read aloud any paragraph from the story.
Ans: Students should do this on their own.
6. Discuss the following questions in the class, by forming groups.
(a) Was the South- West Wind a kind person?
Ans: South-West Wind was a kind person to those who were good to him. But if someone did not treat him well, he would get angry and punish him.
(b) Why did the King of the Golden River tell Gluck a secret?
Ans: The King of the Golden River told Gluck a secret because Gluck had freed him from the magic spell.
(c) Why did Gluck decide to go to the top of the mountain?
Ans: Gluck decided to go to the top of the mountain because his brother had gone there and didn’t come back.
7. Make a list of your favourite stories
Ans: My favourite stories are:
(1) The three bears
(2) Panchatantra stories
(3) Jungle book
(4) Rapunzel