Chapter 18

Read the second chapter of this longer story called _The King of the Golden River_.

Give me the main points in this chapter?

1. The valley was turned into a desert. 2. The brothers became goldsmiths. 3. The mug 4. Gluck's wish that the river would turn into gold 5. The voice from the furnace 6. The dwarf 7. The King told Gluck how the river could be turned into gold.

What are the characters of the two brothers in this chapter? They were very dishonest and even tried to mix copper with the gold. They were drunken and wasted their money, and they were lazy and cruel.

Describe the mug that was being melted. It had been given to them by their uncle, and Gluck was very fond of it. It was made of gold almost in the form of a human face. The face was fierce and red, the eyes were bright, the beard and whiskers were of fine gold, and the hair was of fine spun gold, forming the handle of the mug.

While the mug was being melted in the furnace, what did Gluck see as he looked out of the window? The range of mountains overhanging Treasure Valley, with the mountain tops shining in the sunset.

This is a lovely description of a sunset in the mountains. Pick out the details of the picture. "Rocks ... all crimson and purple with the sunset", "bright tongues of fiery cloud", "the river ... a waving column of pure gold", "the double arch of a broad purple rainbow", "flushing and fading alternately in the wreaths of spray".

What words suggest colours? "Crimson", "purple", "fiery", "pure gold", "purple rainbow", "flushing", "fading".

What did this picture suggest to Gluck? It made him wish that the river were really gold.

Describe the dwarf who came out of the furnace. He was a foot and a half high; his hair and beard were long, curled, and delicate, and his face was copper-coloured.

Account for the dwarf being in such a place. It was owing to the malicious enchantment of a king stronger than himself that he had been turned into the golden mug, and, when the mug was melted, Gluck poured out the metal, and, thus freed the King of the Golden River from the power of his enemy.

How did the King show his gratitude? He told Gluck how the river could be turned into gold.

What must Gluck do in order to gain this end? He must climb to the top of the mountain and cast three drops of holy water into the stream at its source.