18 Questions
What does King Midas express discontent about when talking to the stranger?
He expresses discontent about the amount of wealth he has accumulated, considering it a trifle.
How does King Midas feel about the stranger's question on whether he is satisfied?
He shakes his head, indicating that he is not satisfied.
What does King Midas feel about the stranger's ability to grant his wishes?
He feels a presentiment that the stranger has both the power and the purpose to gratify his utmost wishes.
What realization does King Midas have when he realizes he can ask for anything from the stranger?
King Midas realizes that he can obtain whatever possible, or seemingly impossible thing, by just speaking up.
What bright idea strikes King Midas after contemplating all the things he could ask for?
A bright idea occurs to King Midas, which seems as bright as the glistening metal he loves so much.
In what way does the text suggest King Midas' insatiable greed?
The text suggests King Midas' insatiable greed through his discontent despite immense wealth and his eagerness to ask for more from the stranger.
What Latin root is the word 'lustrous' derived from, and what does it mean?
-lus- (or -luc-), meaning 'light' or 'shining'
How would you describe the stranger's smile in 'The Golden Touch'?
Lustrous
What essential question is posed regarding possessions in the text?
What do our possessions reveal about us?
What concept does the selection teach about the desire for material objects affecting people's judgment?
How the desire for material objects can affect people's judgment
How would you summarize the consequences of King Midas's greed in the story?
King Midas's greed led to tragic consequences.
What word from the text is associated with materialism and relates to being shiny or bright?
Burnished
What was King Midas' primary desire that consumed all his thoughts and time?
Riches
What did King Midas wish the gold-tinted clouds of sunset were, and where did he wish he could store them?
Real gold, in his strong box
What did King Midas used to say when little Marygold brought him flowers, and what did he imply about their worth?
If these flowers were as golden as they look, they would be worth the plucking
What did King Midas once enjoy doing that he no longer had any interest in?
Enjoying music
What did King Midas calculate when he looked at the roses in his garden?
How much the garden would be worth if each rose petal were a thin plate of gold
What story is mentioned regarding King Midas' ears, and what was his true love now?
Story about his ears resembling those of an ass; his true love now was the sound of coins clinking
Study Notes
King Midas' Affluence
- King Midas has accumulated a vast amount of gold in his room, which he considers a trifle compared to what he could have if he lived for a thousand years.
- Midas is discontented with his wealth and desires more.
Midas' Conversation with the Stranger
- A stranger visits Midas and expresses surprise at the amount of gold in the room.
- Midas reveals that he is not satisfied with his wealth and desires more.
- The stranger asks Midas what would satisfy him, and Midas ponders what he could ask for.
The Psychological Effects of Materialism
- Midas' desire for material objects has affected his judgment, making him value only gold and wealth.
- He has lost interest in things that brought him joy before, such as flowers and music.
Vocabulary and Word Study
- The concept vocabulary words "burnished", "lustrous", and "gilded" are related to materialism and have a common theme.
- The Latin root "-lus-" (meaning "light" or "shining") is used to form words such as "lustrous", "illustrative", "lackluster", and "elucidate".
Test your understanding of context clues and strategies used to determine meaning in the text 'The Golden Touch'. Identify the meaning of the word 'lustrous' in the given context.
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