Chapter 19

What are the main facts in this chapter?

1. The brothers returned and beat Gluck because the mug was a total loss. 2. Schwartz and Hans fought. 3. Schwartz was arrested. 4. Hans stole a cupful of holy water. 5. Hans taunted Schwartz. 6. Hans attempted to change the river to gold. (1) The dog; (2) the fair child; (3) the old man. 7. Hans was changed into the Black Stone.

What characteristics of the older brothers are shown in this chapter? They were drunken, brutal, quarrelsome, dishonest, malicious, and selfish.

Why are the dog, the child, and the old man introduced into the story? To show how indifferent Hans was to the suffering of animals, children, and aged people. The sight of these helpless creatures should have aroused his pity.

Were there any indications in the story that Hans would be unsuccessful? Yes, there was "a strange shadow"; the air "seemed to throw his blood into a fever"; "a dark gray cloud came over the sun"; "long, snake-like shadows"; "leaden weight of the dead air"; "flash of blue lightning"; "tongues of fire"; "flashes of bloody light".

Why was Hans unsuccessful? He had led a bad life, had been dishonest, and had been selfish to the dog, the child, and the aged man.

Show that it was an appropriate punishment that Hans should be turned into a Black Stone. His heart was as hard as stone, and his deeds were black.