Question

King Midas of the Golden Touch

Excerpt from A Book of Myths

by Jean Lang



The story of King Midas is a Greek myth. After Midas is named king of Phrygia, Silenus, a god who is the teacher and companion of Bacchus, is captured and brought to him. After Midas returns Silenus to Bacchus, Bacchus agrees to give him anything he wishes.

1

Not even for a moment did Midas ponder.

2

“I would have gold,” he said hastily—“much gold. I would have that touch by which all common and valueless things become golden treasures.”

3

And Bacchus, knowing that here spoke the son of peasants who many times had gone empty to bed after a day of toilful striving on the rocky uplands of Phrygia, looked a little sadly in the eager face of Midas, and answered: “Be it as thou wilt. Thine shall be the golden touch.”

4

Then Bacchus and Silenus went away… and Midas quickly put to proof the words of Bacchus.

5

An olive tree grew near where he stood, and from it he picked a little twig decked with leaves of softest grey, and lo, it grew heavy as he held it, and glittered like a piece of his crown.… He touched an apple whose cheek grew rosy in the sun, and at once it became like the golden fruit in the Garden of the Hesperides.… Midas had the Golden Touch. Joyously he strode into the palace and commanded a feast to be prepared—a feast worthy of an occasion so magnificent.

6

But when Midas, with the healthy appetite of the peasant-born, would have eaten largely of the savoury food that his cooks prepared, he found that his teeth only touched roast kid to turn it into a slab of gold, that garlic lost its flavour and became gritty as he chewed, that rice turned into golden grains, and curdled milk became a dower fit for a princess, entirely unnegotiable for the digestion of man.… Only for a very few days was Midas able to bear the affliction of his wealth. There was nothing now for him to live for.… Gold was power, he knew well, yet of what worth was gold while he starved? Gold could not buy him life and health and happiness.

7

In despair, at length he cried to the god who had given him the gift that he hated.

8

“Save me, O Bacchus!” he said. “A witless one am I, and the folly of my desire has been my undoing. Take away from me the accursed Golden Touch, and faithfully and well shall I serve thee forever.”

Excerpt from "King Midas of the Golden Touch" by Jean Lang, from A Book of Myths. In the public domain.

The Problem with Popularity

1

Sprawled on my bed, I pondered my unfortunate status as one of North County Middle School’s “regular guys.”

2

It wasn’t like I was unpopular. I had three best friends, and I was certain there weren’t too many individuals at my school who actively disliked me.

3

Still, I couldn’t stop myself from envying the most popular kids and wishing I was one of them. I closed my eyes and imagined just how much better life would be if everyone wanted to be my friend.…

4

Adjusting my backpack on my shoulder, I sauntered toward the main entrance of my school as someone raced ahead of me and opened the door wide, smiling and greeting me warmly as I strolled into the foyer.

5

The minute I entered the building, all conversation came to a screeching halt. More than two hundred pairs of eyes were focused on me alone, and dozens of girls and boys who had barely given me the time of day in the past shouted hello, gave me high fives, and inquired about my plans for the weekend. I felt like a true celebrity!

6

At lunchtime, I snuck off to the library to enjoy a half hour of uninterrupted reading before afternoon classes began, something I’d done since the fourth grade.

7

I nestled into the plush couch and opened my book, but before I got to the end of the page, I felt someone sit down beside me.

8

“Hey, Julio,” a boy said, “I was wondering if you’d like to be my partner for our English project.”

9

“Er—sure,” I replied.

10

As soon as he got up, two people sat down. One asked me to sit with her on the bus, and another wanted my help organizing the school fun fair.

11

“Yeah, okay,” I mumbled, wanting to get back to my story.

12

There was a second of silence, and then the entire library was filled with the sound of dozens of people calling out my name and approaching the couch that had once been my sanctuary. I looked around desperately, but there was no escape.

13

“Okay,” I hollered, “I don’t want to be popular!”

14

I opened my eyes, relieved to be in my own room, content at last to be exactly who I was: a regular guy with a few fantastic friends.Which paragraph of "King MIdas of the Golden Touch" MOST helps to develop the idea that there are more important things in life than riches and wealth?


paragraph 2


paragraph 3


paragraph 5


paragraph 6

Answer 1

paragraph 6

It shows Midas can't eat because everything turns to gold and he realizes "Gold could not buy him life and health and happiness," directly emphasizing that other things matter more than riches.