The Golden Touch

Which excerpt from early in “The Golden Touch” most strongly hints at a tragic event to come?

• Once upon a time, there lived a very rich man, and a king besides, whose name was Midas; and he had a little daughter, whom nobody but myself ever heard of, and whose name I either never knew, or have entirely forgotten.

• He made it his custom, therefore, to pass a large portion of every day in a dark and dreary apartment, under ground, at the basement of his place. It was here that he kept his wealth. To this dismal hole … Midas betook himself whenever he wanted to be particularly happy.          

• In those days, when the earth was comparatively a new affair, it was supposed to be often the resort of beings endowed with supernatural powers, and who used to interest themselves in the joys and sorrows of men, women and children, half playfully and half seriously.

• He drew out his handkerchief, which little Marygold had hemmed for him. That was likewise gold…. Somehow or other, this last transformation did not quite please King Midas. He would rather that his little daughter’s handiwork should have remained just the same.

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What lesson does Midas learn in “The Golden Touch”?

• Never let a stranger make important decisions on your behalf.

• Everyday objects are beautiful and valuable just the way they are.

• It is the parents’ duty to make wealth and pass it on to their children.

• The king should set an example of kindness for his children and servants.

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Which word best describes King Midas in the first part of “The Golden Touch”?

• wise

• cruel

• greedy

• rascally

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Which sentence from “The Golden Touch” best supports the answer to the previous question?

• He had planted a garden, in which grew the biggest and beautifullest and sweetest roses that any mortal ever saw or smelt.

• The very tip-top of enjoyment would never be reached, unless the whole world were to become his treasure-room, and be filled with yellow metal which should be all his own.

• Midas was enjoying himself in his treasure-room, one day, as usual, when he perceived a shadow fall over the heaps of gold.

• Midas now took his spectacles from his pocket, and put them on his nose, in order that he might see more distinctly what he was about

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In “The Golden Touch,” what is the central conflict?

• the conflict between Midas and nature

• the conflict between Midas and the stranger

• the conflict between Midas and his daughter

• the conflict between Midas and his new power

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Which excerpt from “The Golden Touch” best illustrates the conflict?

• Then, with a sweet and sorrowful impulse to comfort him, she started from her chair, and running to Midas, threw her arms affectionately about his knees.

• It would be too sad a story, if I were to tell you how Midas, in the fullness of his gratified desires, began to wring his hands and bemoan himself; and how he could neither bear to look at Marygold, nor yet to look away….

• But that water … was more precious to Midas than an ocean full of molten gold could have been. The first thing he did, as you need hardly be told, was to sprinkle it by handfuls over the golden figure of little Marygold.

• When King Midas had grown quite an old man, and used to trot Marygold’s children on his knee, he was fond of telling them this marvelous story, pretty much as I have now told it to you

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