TASK

GRAB THE SHORT STORY, READ IT AND DISCLOSE STRAIGHTFORWARDLY

1. Identify the following elements:

a) Protagonist, Antagonist, initial situation, rising action, climax, falling and

b) Setting, Characters and the theme.

c) Is this conflict internal or external?

d) To what extent would you unveil the girls’ stance in the conflict, or what kind of
conflict are they facing?

2. Disclose the incident that happened to these characters: little girl, old girl and the
king’s son.

a) What kind of character are the old girl and her mother?

b) Grab this expression, delve it, and then disclose why the young girl’s mother

called her young daughter as “My Child For The First Time”?

c) Why did the king’s son decide to marry the young girl?

e) Grab the following expression, and then disclose who said this:"that at every word
you speak, there shall come out of your mouth either a flower or a jewel."

f) Grab the following expression and paraphrase it: “As people naturally love their own
likenesses, this mother ever doted on her eldest daughter and at the same time had a
sad aversion for the youngest.”

g) In less than 80 words, write a brief summary of the story.

Good luck

By Cachele, M.A. in ELT

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 Toads and Diamonds

There was once upon a time a widow who had two daughters. The oldest was so

much like her in face and humor that whoever looked upon the daughter saw the

mother. They were both so disagreeable and so proud that there was no living

with them. The youngest, who was the very picture of her father for courtesy

and sweetness of temper, was withal one of the most beautiful girls that was

ever seen. As people naturally love their own likenesses, this mother ever doted

on her eldest daughter and at the same time had a sad aversion for the

youngest. She made her eat in the kitchen and work continually.

Among other things, this poor child was forced twice a day to draw water above

a mile and a half from the house, and bring home a pitcher full of it. One day as

she was at this fountain there came to her a poor woman, who begged of her to

let her drink. "Oh, yes, with all my heart, Goody," said this pretty little girl; and

rinsing the pitcher, she took up some water from the clearest place of the

fountain and gave it to her, holding up the pitcher all the while that she might

drink the easier.

The good woman having drunk, said to her, "You are so very pretty, my dear, so

good and so mannerly, that I cannot help giving you a gift"--for this was a fairy,

who had taken the form of a poor country woman to see how far the civility and

good manners of this pretty girl would go. "I will give you for gift," continued

the fairy, "that at every word you speak, there shall come out of your mouth

either a flower or a jewel."

When this pretty girl came home, her mother scolded at her for staying so long

at the fountain. "I beg your pardon, mamma," said the poor girl, "for not making

more haste"; and, in speaking these words, there came out of her mouth two

roses, two pearls, and two large diamonds. "What is it I see there?" said her

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mother quite astonished. "I think I see pearls and diamonds come out of the

girl's mouth! How happens this, my child?" This was the first time she ever

called her child.

The poor creature told her frankly all the matter, not without dropping out

infinite numbers of diamonds. "In good faith," cried the mother, "I must send

my child thither. Come hither, Fanny. Look what comes out of your sister's

mouth when she speaks! Would you not be glad, my dear, to have the same gift

given to you? You have nothing else to do but go draw water out of the fountain,

and when a certain poor woman asks you to let her drink, to give it her very

civilly." "It would be a very fine sight, indeed," said this ill-bred minx, "to see me

go draw water!" "You shall go, hussy," said the mother, "and this minute." So

away she went, but grumbling all the way and taking with her the best silver

tankard in the house. She was no sooner at the fountain than she saw coming out

of the wood a lady most gloriously dressed, who came up to her and asked to

drink. This was, you must know, the very fairy who appeared to her sister, but

who had now taken the air and dress of a princess to see how far this girl's

rudeness would go. "Am I come hither," said the proud, saucy maid, "to serve you

with water, pray? I suppose the silver tankard was brought purely for your

ladyship, was it? However, you may drink out of it, if you have a fancy." "You are

not over and above mannerly," answered the fairy, without putting herself in a

passion. "Well, then, since you have so little breeding and are so disobliging, I

give you for gift, that at every word you speak there shall come out of your

mouth a snake or a toad." So soon as her mother saw her coming, she cried out,

"Well, daughter."

"Well, mother," answered the pert hussy, throwing out of her mouth two vipers

and two toads. "Oh, mercy!" cried the mother, "what is it I see? Oh, it is that

wretch, her sister, who has occasioned all this; but she shall pay for it"; and

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immediately she ran to beat her. The poor child fled away from her and went to

hide herself in the forest, not far from thence. The king's son, then on his

return from hunting, met her, and seeing her so very pretty, asked her what she

did there alone, and why she cried. "Alas, sir! My mamma has turned me out of

doors." The king's son, who saw five or six pearls, and as many diamonds, come

out of her mouth, desired her to tell him how that happened. She thereupon told

him the whole story; and so the king's son fell in love with her; and, considering

with himself that such a gift was worth more than any marriage-portion

whatsoever in another, he conducted her to the palace of the king his father

and there married her. As for her sister, she made herself so much hated that

her own mother turned her off; and the miserable girl, having wandered about a

good while without finding anybody to take her in, went to a corner in the wood

and there died.