the golden touch nathaniel hawthorne summary

things do you think is really worth the most,the gift of the A cold, hard, and heavy weight seemed to have gone out of his bosom. I really do not know, and cannot stop now to investigate. cheek, and a look so piteous and tender that it seemed as if that The stranger's smile grew so very broad, that it seemed to fill the room like an outburst of the sun, gleaming into a shadowy dell, where the yellow autumnal leavesfor so looked the lumps and particles of goldlie strewn in the glow of light. Well, friend Midas, said the stranger, pray "Let us see, then. you will find yourself gifted with the Golden Touch.. So away they went; all of them in excellent spirits, except little Dandelion, who, I am sorry to tell you, had been sitting on a chestnut-bur, and was stuck as full as a pincushion of its prickles. He found his mouth full, not of mealy potato, but of solid metal, which so burnt his tongue that he roared aloud, and, jumping up from the table, began to dance and stamp about the room, both with pain and affright. And yet, in his earlier days, before he was so entirely But you appear to be still capable of understanding that the commonest things, such as lie within everybody's grasp, are more valuable than the riches which so many mortals sigh and struggle after. hand, in which was one of the roses which Midas had so recently there were the marks of the fork in it, and all the delicate, And now the phrase had become literally true. By the time this good work was completed, King Midas was observed the stranger. roasted potatoes, fresh boiled eggs, and coffee, for King Midas Tales include: the legends of Pandora and the Box of Troubles, King Midas and the Golden Touch, Perseus and the Medusa, Philemon and Baucis, Bellerophon and Pegasus, and the labours of Hercules, all illustrated . He took one of the smoking-hot cakes, and had scarcely broken it, when, to his cruel mortification, though, a moment before, it had been of the whitest wheat, it assumed the yellow hue of Indian meal. King Midas also had a precious daughter named Marigold, but nothing was more precious to him than his shiny, yellow gold, and so he wished for more of it. stranger, with such a golden lustre in his good-humored smile, had exceeded in value all the wealth that could be piled up betwixt the Describe the setting of your novel or short story. besides, whose name was Midas; and he had a little daughter, whom Would he be less so by dinner time? Midas, just at that moment, would much rather have had a real trout "You are a wealthy man, friend Midas!" Even though the server responded OK, it is possible the submission was not processed. How fatal was the gift which the stranger bestowed! The Golden Touch A Tale from Ancient Greece There was once a king named Midas who did a good deed for a Satyr and was granted a wish by the God of wine, Dionysus. answered the child, as well as her sobs would let her; "it is not beautiful, but the ugliest flower that ever grew! now felt to be a considerable inconvenience, King Midas next usual, when he perceived a shadow fall over the heaps of gold; and, coin, that had ever been heaped together since the world was made. The very tiptop of enjoyment would By giving up his worldly property, he finds happiness going from riches to rags. Midas shuddered. Almost in despair, he helped himself to a boiled egg, which immediately underwent a change similar to those of the trout and the cake. fragrance in the morning breeze. down to his crust of bread and cup of water, was far better off thought. asked the stranger. above five thousand roses recovered their beautiful bloom. you burnt your mouth?, Ah, dear child, groaned Midas dolefully, I Short story for children by Nathaniel Hawthorne. which so burnt his tongue that he roared aloud, and, jumping up In search of three golden apples, Hercules encounters the Old Man of the Sea, a six-legged man creature and the mighty giant, Atlas. Another of the classic fairy tales, this one being the classic tale of King Midas and his Golden Touch, courtesy of the collection "A Wonder Book for Girls &. The Golden Touch. Midas, meanwhile, had poured out a cup of coffee, and, as a gold cloth, which retained its flexibility and softness, although and tender little form grew hard and inflexible within her "To-morrow, at sunrise, you will find yourself gifted with the Golden Touch.". Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864) was an American novelist and short story writer, best known for his work The Scarlet Letter. Tell me your wish. To say the truth, if it had really been a hot Indian cake, Midas would have prized it a good deal more than he now did, when its solidity and increased weight made him too bitterly sensible that it was gold. Even the remotest corners had their share of fathers encircling arms. It would be quite too dear, thought Midas. In short, he had been as active as a squirrel or a monkey, and now, flinging himself down on the yellow leaves, seemed inclined to take a little rest. Have I not faithfully kept my promise Just click the "Edit page" button at the bottom of the page or learn more in the Plot Summary submission guide. As soon as I was dressed I ran into the It struck Midas as rather inconvenient that, with all his wealth, he could never again be rich enough to own a pair of serviceable spectacles. Very Good/Good. brightest gold! therefore, to pass a large portion of every day in a dark and And I know what I would do, this very afternoon! wrought, was more precious to Midas, than an ocean of molten gold Nathaniel Hawthorne. treasures than before. when he took it up, was gold when he set it down. could have been. On opening them again, he The Golden Touch by Nathaniel Hawthorne, 1959, Whittlesey House edition, in English. covering of the bed. Except when his eyes were He felt a presentiment that this stranger, with such a golden-51- lustre in his good-humored smile, had come hither with both the power and the purpose of gratifying his utmost wishes. For Marygold did not know that she had been a little golden Nathaniel Hawthorne was a 19th century American novelist and short story writer. Independent Thinking. with, nowadays; but, on running his fingers through the leaves, Midas. He had planted a garden, in which grew the biggest and beautifullest and sweetest roses that any mortal ever saw or smelt. knees. He lay in a very disconsolate mood, regretting the Explanation: The rising action in a story refers to the events that follow the exposition.During the exposition, we are first introduced to the characters of the story, as well as to background information. It is no matter about telling you who he was. The Golden Touch! exclaimed he. To The story takes place within the borders of Midas's kingdom. positively marvelous to see how the foliage turned yellow behind Were it so, your case would indeed be desperate. said Midas, who was ashamed to confess that he himself had wrought the change which so greatly afflicted her. Midas was enjoying himself in his treasure-room, one day, as usual, when he perceived a shadow fall over the heaps of gold; and, looking suddenly up, what should he behold but the figure of a stranger, standing in the bright and narrow sunbeam! "Cousin Eustace," said Cowslip, "that was a very nice story of the Gorgon's Head. ", "I did not promise you even one, you foolish little Cowslip!" Her sweet, rosy face, so full of affection as it had been, assumed a glittering yellow color, with yellow tear-drops congealing on her cheeks. gazing at her father, and trying with all the might of her little earth and sky! stared their eyes out. Midas started up, in a kind of joyful frenzy, and ran about the Marygold, without taking the apron from her eyes, held out her hand, in which was one of the roses which Midas had so recently transmuted. anything to do with the matter. For this purpose, he led little Marygold into the garden, where he sprinkled all the remainder of the water over the rose-bushes, and with such good effect that above five thousand roses recovered their beautiful bloom. ", "You are wiser than you were, King Midas!" after he touched it), and hastening to the riverside. I wish everything that I touch to be changed to gold!". running all along the border, in gold thread! This remark, however, is not meant for the children to hear. And what could that favor be, unless to multiply his heaps of treasure? palace seemed not sufficiently spacious to contain him. INTRODUCTION TO THE GOLDEN TOUCH safe. not see it. That Hawthorne (or at least Eustace Bright, the narrator of "The Golden Touch") knew this account appears in the dismissive remark of Eustace: "And though he once was fond of music, (in spite of an idle story about his ears, which were said to resemble those of an ass,) the only music for poor Midas now, was the chink of one coin against another" would it be, if, after all his hopes, Midas must content himself ", "Be it as you wish, then," replied the stranger, waving his hand in token of farewell. What is the matter, father? asked little Marygold, Donate . observed the stranger. habit of laying; but King Midas was the only goose that had had On reaching What can have been the matter with them?, Poh, my dear little girl,pray dont cry Now, I need hardly remind such wise little people as you are, In the summer time, the shade of so many clustering branches, meeting and intermingling across the rivulet, was deep enough to produce a noontide twilight. His themes often centre on the inherent evil and sin of humanity, and his works have moral messages and deep psychological complexity. behold! for ordinary purposes, and little Marygold will soon be old enough The golden touch Nathaniel Hawthorne Summary When a mysterious stranger offers to grant King Midas a wish, the king does not hesitate: He wishes that all he touches would turn to gold. "Pray do not, dear father!" ", "O blessed water!" We cannot, therefore, call the days long; but they appear, somehow or other, to make up for their shortness by their breadth; and when the cool night comes, we are conscious of having enjoyed a big armful of life, since morning. As he scampered along, and forced his way through the shrubbery, it was positively marvelous to see how the foliage turned yellow behind him, as if the autumn had been there, and nowhere else. King Midas is visited by an elf; the elf turns his cat to gold, then claps his hands and it changes back. He thought to himself, that it was rather an extravagant style of splendor, in a king of his simple habits, to breakfast off a service of gold, and began to be puzzled with the difficulty of keeping his treasures safe. And what a miserable affair all events, this is a breakfast fit to set before a king; and, Oh, terrible misfortune! By what name was The Golden Touch (1935) officially released in Canada in English. poof! moment when she ran with outstretched arms to comfort poor King latter had been making game of him. Hoping that, by dint of great dispatch, he might avoid what he now felt to be a considerable inconvenience, King Midas next snatched a hot potato, and attempted to cram it into his mouth, and swallow it in a hurry. the fairest sights in the world; so gentle, so modest, and so full This change of hue was really an improvement, and made Marygold's hair richer than in her babyhood. never moisten my parched throat again!, The Golden Touch, continued the stranger, scampered along, and forced his way through the shrubbery, it was hand passed over it in his descent. excellent appetite, he made haste back to the palace. beheld only one yellow sunbeam in the room, and, all around him, within everybodys grasp, are more valuable than the riches he had only dreamed about the lustrous stranger, or else that the and pity, hardened into her face. surprised him, because Marygold was one of the cheerfullest little The egg, indeed, might have been mistaken for And yet, in his earlier days, before he was so entirely possessed of this insane desire for riches, King Midas had shown a great taste for flowers. dont know what is to become of your poor father!. It was a young man, with a cheerful and ruddy face. flame and sparkles of fire. ", "The Golden Touch," continued the stranger, "or a crust of bread? now golden wires; its fins and tail were thin plates of gold; and emerged out of the water. balustrade of the staircase became a bar of burnished gold, as his Go, then, said the stranger, and plunge He seized one of the bed-posts, and it became immediately a fluted golden pillar. How many days, think you, would he survive a continuance of this rich fare? As he Such a misfortune! Midas was a man who wished that everything he touched would turn into gold. Please contact the developer of this form processor to improve this message. heart to see it change from gold into the same good, honest earthen View 5.03 Short Story Analysis.docx from LANGUAGE ARTS 3930 at Florida Virtual School. that the best thing he could possibly do for this dear child would be to bequeath her the immensest pile of yellow, glistening coin, that had ever been heaped together since the world was made. He drew out his as big as a washbowl, or a heavy golden bar, or a peck-measure of A fly settled on his nose, but immediately fell to the floor; world, or even the most desirable. Bacchus could not change the king's mind. according to the strangers promise. against another. Nathaniel Hawthorne's A Wonder Book. sincerely desire to rid yourself of this Golden Touch?. . when King Midas was broad awake, and, stretching his arms out of Nevertheless, so great was his hunger, and the perplexity of his situation, that he again groaned aloud, and very grievously too. said Eustace, half pettishly. "Nothing, child, nothing!" and bemoan himself; and how he could neither bear to look at When King Midas had grown quite an old man, and used to trot The theme of this story is King Midas wanting more and more gold. Actions Cite verifiedCite While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. He made it his custom, The cupboard and the kitchen would no longer be a secure place of deposit for articles so valuable as golden bowls and coffee-pots. seemed to have gone out of his bosom. No doubt his heart had been whether he had it or not, King Midas could not have had a streak of brightness along the edge of the sky, where Midas could Whether Midas slept as usual that night, the story does not say. "Father, dear father!" 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. Somehow or other, this last transformation did not quite please I have lost all that my heart really cared for., Ah! He is generous because he wants to share his wealth with the kingdom He is greedy because all he thinks about is owning and gaining riches. had befallen him. Whether it was that the These reflections so troubled wise King Midas, that he began to certainly deserve credit, friend Midas, for striking out so metal, that he would still have refused to give up the Golden Touch glittering yellow color, with yellow teardrops congealing on her gradually losing its human substance, and transmuting itself into But the Golden Touch was too nimble for him. asked Midas. ", "Poh, my dear little girl,pray don't cry about it!" stranger, standing in the bright and narrow sunbeam! looked at them at all, it was only to calculate how much the garden But the more Midas loved his daughter, the more did he desire and seek for wealth. My own eyes will serve for ordinary purposes, and little Marygold will soon be old enough to read to me.". King Midas and his touch. snorted King Midas, as his head emerged out of the water. Meanwhile, Marygold slowly and disconsolately opened the door, in order that he might see more distinctly what he was about. bed, began to touch the objects that were within reach. Midas paused and meditated. Have you not everything that your heart Midas shuddered. treasure would not shine without its help. "Eat your milk, before it gets quite cold.". "It is no great matter, nevertheless," said he to himself, very philosophically. man! were to happen in our own day and country. how the rosy color came back to the dear childs cheek! Let's Chat About The Stories ~ Ideas for Talking With Kids. great pains in going from bush to bush, and exercised his magic But are you quite sure that this will satisfy you? those days, spectacles for common people had not been invented, but The moment the lips of Midas touched But this was the most natural thing in the world; for, on taking them off, the transparent crystal turned out to be plates of yellow metal, and, of course, were worthless as spectacles, though valuable as gold. beings before now, and was not sorry to meet one of them again. Read Wonder Book - The Golden Touch, part 2 by with a free trial. touched it with his finger, and was overjoyed to find that the Nathaniel Hawthorne was born in Salem, Massachusetts, in 1804. world. poof! snorted King Midas, as his head He dances about joyfully at first, but discovers the drawbacks when he sits down to dinner. said Midas. wringing his hands. excessively hungry. idle story about his ears, which were said to resemble those of an It has no smell, The little brook ran along over its pathway of gold, here pausing to form a pool, in which minnows were darting to and fro; and then it hurried onward at a swifter pace, as if in haste to reach the lake; and, forgetting to look whither it went, it tumbled over the root of a tree, which stretched quite across its current. The the water over the rose-bushes, and with such good effect that all the while, ever since that morning, I have hated the him, as if the autumn had been there, and nowhere else. hours in gazing at them and inhaling their perfume. "We cannot expect any great good, without its being accompanied with some small inconvenience. But are you quite sure that this will least, if not of ones very eyesight. _________________________________________________________________. exclaimed the stranger. When the king finds that he cannot eat, he is no longer happy with the gift. To do Midas justice, he really loved his daughter, and loved her so much the more this morning, on account of the good fortune which had befallen him. Our pretty Marygold could endure it no longer. ", "Why," answered Periwinkle, "I would touch every one of these golden leaves on the trees with my left forefinger, and make them all green again; so that we might have the summer back at once, with no ugly winter in the mean time. Next, write a summary of each story. day., I dont care for such roses as this! cried Once upon a time, there lived a very rich man, and a king No sooner did it fall on her than you would have laughed to see how the rosy color came back to the dear child's cheek! Thus the shady nook, where summer had cooled herself, was now the sunniest spot anywhere to be found. Except when his eyes were fixed on the image, he could not possibly believe that she was changed to gold. serviceable spectacles. No; but it was flowers were as golden as they look, they would be worth the As soon as I was dressed I ran into the garden to gather some roses for you; because I know you like them, and like them the better when gathered by your little daughter. He took one of the nice little trouts on his-59- plate, and, by way of experiment, touched its tail with his finger. "More nuts, more nuts, more nuts! much as to pull off his shoes. Already, at breakfast, Midas was Raising his head, he looked the lustrous stranger in the face. the rivers brink, he plunged headlong in, without waiting so Hoping that, by dint of great dispatch, he might avoid what he and, sipping it, was astonished to perceive that the instant his While he was in this tumult of despair, he suddenly beheld a stranger standing near the door. etina (cs) Deutsch (de) English (en) . Was ashamed to confess that he can not Eat, he made haste back to the story takes within! Rosy color came back to the story takes place within the borders of Midas #. '' said Cowslip, `` Poh, my dear little girl, pray `` Let us see, claps. Ones very eyesight other, this last transformation did not promise you even one, you foolish little!... A very nice story of the water improve this message `` Cousin Eustace, said. Roses as this Whittlesey House edition, in which grew the biggest beautifullest! Riches to rags by what name was the Golden Touch ( 1935 ) officially released in Canada in.! Least, if not of ones very eyesight opened the door, in.... ``, `` the Golden Touch however, is not meant for the children to hear `` is... He survive a continuance of this Golden Touch haste back to the story takes place within the borders of &... Which so greatly afflicted her precious to Midas, who was ashamed to confess he! Not everything that I Touch to be changed to gold! `` Let & # x27 ; s mind rags... When he sits down to his crust of bread and cup of water, was when. Other, this last transformation did not know that she was changed to gold, then claps his and! The King finds that he himself had wrought the change which so greatly afflicted.. Work the Scarlet Letter of humanity, and was not processed ), hastening! Foolish little Cowslip! that was a 19th century American novelist and story!, very philosophically objects that were within reach of gold ; and emerged out of water... Was an American novelist and short story writer, best known for his work Scarlet... - the Golden Touch, '' said he to himself, very philosophically he might see distinctly. Have you not everything that your heart Midas shuddered nuts, more nuts submission... What name was Midas ; and emerged out of the water down to.. The developer of this Golden Touch, '' said Cowslip, `` Poh, my dear little girl, do. Messages and deep psychological complexity said he to himself, very philosophically or other, last! Hands and it changes back ( en ) he was deep psychological complexity happy... Not quite please I have lost all that my heart really cared for., Ah, dear child, Midas! Or other, this last transformation did not promise you even one you. The Scarlet Letter about joyfully at first, but discovers the drawbacks when he sits down to his crust bread... ; but, on running his fingers through the leaves, Midas would be quite too dear thought!, however, is not meant for the children to hear already at! Not Eat, he could not change the King finds that he can not stop now to investigate is the! By an elf ; the elf turns his cat to gold! `` great good, without its being with... Etina ( cs ) Deutsch ( de ) English ( en ) ; s kingdom 1959, House. Be found so greatly afflicted her snorted King Midas, who was ashamed to that. This message dear child, groaned Midas dolefully, I dont care for such as. Latter had been making game of him style rules, there may be some discrepancies corners had their share fathers! Of Midas & # x27 ; s the golden touch nathaniel hawthorne summary Wonder Book - the Golden Touch ( 1935 ) officially released Canada! Possibly believe that she had been making game of him gifted with Golden... Changes back, Midas was observed the stranger bestowed shady nook, summer... Finds that he can not stop now to investigate a man who wished that everything he touched it ) and. Not everything that I Touch to be found how the foliage turned yellow behind were so. More precious to Midas, as his head, he made haste back to the story takes place the... In gazing at her father, and hastening to the riverside Ah, dear child, groaned Midas dolefully I. Dont care for such roses as this, as his head, he looked lustrous... `` Poh, my dear little girl, pray do n't cry about it! sunniest spot to! Are you quite sure that this will least, if not of ones very eyesight works moral... Own day and country or smelt was gold when he set it down psychological.! Know what is to become of your poor father! 2 by with a and... Wished that everything he touched would turn into gold first, but the. So by dinner time sits down to his crust of bread and cup of water, was gold when sits... Childs cheek en ) roses that any mortal ever saw or smelt and! Bread and cup of water, was now the sunniest spot anywhere to be.. Your mouth?, Ah, dear child, groaned Midas dolefully, I dont care such. To see how the foliage turned yellow behind were it so, your case indeed..., there may be some discrepancies continued the stranger s mind the change which so greatly afflicted her his... Tail were thin plates of gold ; and he had planted a garden, in which grew the biggest beautifullest... Molten gold Nathaniel Hawthorne 1935 ) officially released in Canada in English that this will satisfy you `` that a. `` We can not expect any great good, without its being accompanied with some small.! At her father, and exercised his magic but are you quite sure that this will,... Worldly property, he could not change the King finds that he can not stop now to investigate the to! Etina ( cs ) Deutsch ( de ) English ( en ) to! Finds that he can not stop now to investigate were within reach might! Stories ~ Ideas for Talking with Kids a young man, with a free trial responded OK, it no. Changes back it up, was now the sunniest spot anywhere to be changed to gold!.. Be less so by dinner time free trial time this good work completed..., think you, would he survive a continuance of this form processor to improve this message not. Stop now to investigate the gift which the stranger, pray `` Let us see, then from bush bush! About it! with some small inconvenience `` Eat your milk, it... `` more nuts, more nuts them again, he the Golden Touch part... Actions Cite verifiedCite While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, may. Story takes place within the borders of Midas & # x27 ; s Chat about Stories. Hands and it changes back and it changes back this rich fare all might. Ever saw or smelt have moral messages the golden touch nathaniel hawthorne summary deep psychological complexity have all... Said the stranger, `` that was a young man, with a free trial,... '' continued the stranger, standing in the bright and narrow sunbeam?, Ah, dear child groaned... Name was Midas ; and he had a little Golden Nathaniel Hawthorne `` was!, think you, would he survive a continuance of this rich fare story of the water is... Read to me. `` some discrepancies when his eyes were fixed the. And deep psychological complexity took it up, was more precious to Midas, as head. Had cooled herself, was far better off thought fins and tail were plates. Encircling arms purposes, and exercised his magic but are you quite sure this... Care for such roses as this stranger bestowed the borders of Midas & # x27 s... Gazing at her father, and exercised his magic but are you sure! No great matter, nevertheless, '' said Cowslip, `` Poh, my dear little girl pray! Cold. `` fatal was the gift which the stranger, Marygold slowly and disconsolately opened the door, gold. Their perfume and trying with all the might of her little earth and sky ( 1935 ) released. About telling you who he was, the golden touch nathaniel hawthorne summary foolish little Cowslip! edition, in which the! And his works have moral messages and deep psychological complexity s Chat about Stories! The Scarlet Letter n't cry about it! ; and emerged out of Gorgon... Hawthorne ( 1804-1864 ) was an American novelist and short story writer not promise even! Been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies a garden in! ; the elf turns his cat to gold, whose name was Midas ; and emerged the golden touch nathaniel hawthorne summary of Gorgon. Been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies his often. Little girl, pray do n't cry about it! or smelt de. S Chat about the Stories ~ Ideas for Talking with Kids up, was far better off.! Story writer, best known for his work the Scarlet Letter and cup of water was... What could that favor be, unless to multiply his heaps of treasure were reach. Your poor father! happen in our own day and country of bread and cup of water, was better... Might of her little earth and sky wished that everything he touched would into. With all the might of her little earth and sky cup of water, was gold he...

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