A)Wouldyouratherliketobeawriter,ashepherd,aweaveroraking?Why?
b)Whatdothievesandmurderersdo?Aretheyhonourablepeople?
Listentothestory.Followalonginthebook.Whatisthemoralofthestory? Theshepherd’sdaughter
AfterWilliamSaroyan
Itistheopinionofmygrandmother,Godblessher,thatallmenshouldlabour,andatthetable,amomentagoshesaidtome:Youmustlearntodosomegoodwork,themakingofsomeitem
usefultoman,somethingoutofclay,oroutofwood,ormetal,orcloth.Itisnotproperforayoungmantobeignorantofanhonourablecraft.Isthereanythingyoucanmake?Canyoumakeasimpletable,achair,aplaindish,acoffeepot?Isthereanythingyoucando?
Andmygrandmotherlookedatmewithanger.
Iknow,shesaid,youaresupposedtobeawriter,andIsup-poseyouare,butyoumustlearntomakesolidthings,thingsthatcanbeused,thatcanbeseenandtouched.
TherewasakingofthePersians,saidmygrandmother,andhehadason,andthissonfellinlovewithashepherd’sdaughter.Hewenttohisfatherandhesaid,MyLord,Iloveashepherd’sdaughter,Iwouldhaveherformywife.Andthekingsaid,Iamkingandyouaremyson,andwhenIdieyoushallbeking,howcan
itbethatyouwouldmarrythedaughterofashepherd?Andthesonsaid,MyLord,IdonotknowbutIknowthatIlovethisgirlandwouldhaveherformyqueen.
Thekingsawthathisson’sloveforthegirlwasfromGod,andhesaid,Iwillsendamessagetoher.Andhecalledames-sengertohimandhesaid,Gototheshepherd’sdaughterandsaythatmysonlovesherandwouldhaveherforhiswife.Andthemessengerwenttothegirlandhesaid,Theking’ssonlovesyouandwouldhaveyouforhiswife.Andthegirlsaid,Whatlabourdoeshedo?Andthemessengersaid,Why,heisthesonoftheking;hedoesnolabour.Andthemessen-gerreturnedtothekingandspokethewordsoftheshepherd’sdaughter.
Thekingsaidtohisson,Theshepherd’sdaughterwishedyoutolearnsomecraft.Wouldyoustillhaveherforyourwife?Andthesonsaid,Yes,Iwilllearntoweavestrawrugs.Andtheboywastaughttoweaverugsofstraw,inpatternsandincoloursandwithornamental
designs,andattheendofthreedayshewasmakingveryfinestrawrugs,andthemessengerreturnedtotheshepherd’sdaughter,andhesaid,Theserugsofstrawareoftheworkoftheking’sson.
Andthegirlwentwiththemessengertotheking’spalace,andshebecamethewifeoftheking’sson.
Oneday,saidmygrandmother,theking’ssonwaswalkingthroughthestreetsofBaghdad,andhecameuponaneatingplacewhichwassocleanandcoolthatheentereditandsatatthetable.Thisplacewasaplaceofthievesandmurderers,andtheytooktheking’ssonandplacedhiminalargedungeonwheremanygreatmanofthecitywerebeingheld,andthethievesandmurdererswerekillingthefattestofthemenandfeedingthemtotheleanestofthem,andmakingasportofit.Theking’ssonwasoftheleanestofthemen,anditwasnotknownthathewasthesonofthekingofthePersians,sohislifewasspared,andhesaidtothethievesandmurderers,Iamaweaverofstrawrugsandtheserugshavegreatvalue.Andtheybroughthimstrawandaskedhimtoweaveandinthreedaysheweavedthreerugs,andhesaid,CarrytheserugstothepalaceofthekingofthePersians,andforeachrughewillgiveyouahundredgoldpiecesofmoney.Andtherugswerecarriedtothepalaceoftheking,andwhenthekingsawtherugs,heunderstoodthattheyweretheworkofhissonandhetooktherugstotheshepherd’sdaughterandhesaid,Theserugswerebroughttothepalaceandtheyaretheworkofmysonwhoislost.Andtheshepherd’sdaughtertookeachrugandlookedatitcloselyandinthedesignofeachrugshesawinthewrittenlanguageofthePersiansamessagefromherhusband,andsherelatedthismessagetotheking.
Andtheking,saidmygrandmother,sentmanysoldierstotheplaceofthethievesandmurderers,andthesoldiersrescuedallthecaptivesandkilledallthethievesandmurderers,andtheking’ssonwasreturnedsafelytothepalaceofhisfather,andthecompanyofhiswife,thelittleshepherd’sdaughter.Andwhentheboywentintothepalaceandsawagainhiswife,hehumbledhimselfbeforeherandheembracedherfeet,andhesaid,Mylove,itisbecauseofyouthatIamalive,andthekingwasgreatlypleasedwiththeshepherd’sdaughter.
Now,saidmygrandmother,doyouseewhyeverymanshouldlearnanhonourablecraft?
Iseeveryclearly,Isaid,andassoonasIearnenoughmoneytobuyasawandahammerandapieceoflumberIshalldomybesttomakeasimplechairorashelfforbooks.
Answerthequestions.
1.Whotellsthestory?2.Whyistheauthor’sgrandmotherangrywithhim?3.Whatargumentdoessheusetodemon-stratethatsheisright?4.Whodidtheking’ssonwanttomar-ry?5.Onwhatconditiondidthegirlagreetomarryhim?
6.Whatcraftdidtheyoungmanlearn?7.Howdidtheking’ssongetintotrouble?8.Whywasn’thekilledimmediately?
9.Whatsavedhimfromdeath?10.Whydidhethanktheshep-herd’sdaughter?
Discusswithyourpartner.
Whatskilldoyouhave?
Doyouwishyouhadlearnedanylabour?
Whocangiveyouadviceonhowtobehaveinlife?