Passage 2: Myths and Legends: King Midas and His Donkey Ears

Lilian Stoughton Hyde

Greek mythology began thousands of years ago. There was a need to explain natural events, disasters and events in history. Myths were created about gods and goddesses who had supernatural powers, human feelings and looked human. These ideas were passed down in beliefs and storytelling. The following myth tells of King Midas who makes foolish choices. Midas wished that everything he touched would turn into gold. But then everything he ate and drank turned to gold and his wish became a curse. Midas begged the gods to take this curse away from him, and they agreed.

Midas Seeks A Simpler Life14 The Golden Touch changed King Midas. His chests of gold were left behind and became covered with dust and spiders. He went out into the fields wanting to find and follow Pan, the god of wild nature who protected the flocks of animals and the forests, meadows and mountain areas.15 Pan was a friend to shepherds, hunters and country folk. He lived in a cave not far from the palace of Midas. Pan had horns and legs like a goat and furry pointed ears. He was sometimes seen playing on his pipe. Forest

nymphs, who were young, beautiful women with magic powers, would dance to his songs.16 Pan was a happy-go-lucky kind of god who often sat playing on his pipe, which he made himself. 17 When King Midas heard Pan's pipe, he would forget he was a king. He thought only of the warmth of the sun as he breathed in the sweet air of the mountain.Apollo And Pan Agree To A Music Contest18 One day Pan told the nymphs, in a joking way, that the music of his pipe was better than the music of Apollo, who was the son of Zeus, and the god of music. Pan said that he was ready to try his skill in a music contest with Apollo. Tmolus, the mountain-god, agreed to judge the contest.

19 Apollo came with his lyre. It was a beautiful gold, ivory and jeweled string instrument. Pan's pipe was made of seven pieces of a hollow reed tied together. It looked very plain and simple.

20 Both Apollo and Pan began to play. Tmolus turned toward Apollo to listen. Before they had played long, the mountain-god stopped Pan. He said, "You must know that your simple pipe cannot compare with Apollo's wonderful lyre."

Midas Angers Apollo21 Pan knew Tmolus was right. The contest had really only been a joke. But Midas, who liked Pan's pipe music and could not appreciate the lyre, jumped up and cried out, "Pan's music is better than that of Apollo!"22 Everyone laughed at Midas, except Apollo, who became angry. He looked at the ears of Midas. They did not know the sound of beautiful music. All at once King Midas felt his ears growing long and furry. They had been changed into those of a donkey.23 So Midas was punished by the gods a second time for his foolishness. He was very much ashamed of those long, furry ears and after that always wore a great, purple hat to hide them.Barber Learns The King's Secret24 One day, a barber was cutting Midas' hair and he discovered the king's secret. Midas was so angry that the barber was afraid the king would kill him. He promised the king he would never tell the secret of his ears. The king let him go.25 It was hard for the barber not to tell what he had seen. So one day, he went to a lonely place and dug a hole in the ground. Then he whispered the secret into the earth. The soil was pushed back to bury the secret.26 But after a secret has once been told, it is not so easy to hide it. About a year later, some reeds grew up in that spot. When the south wind blew, they whispered together all day and told one another that under his hat, King Midas had donkey ears. So the secret was spread all over the world.

From "Favorite Greek Myths" by Lilian Stoughton Hyde, published in 1904.

Used with permission from Newsela.

1. How are the points of view of both passages similar? (RL.2.6)A. Both passages are told from the first-person point of view. B. Both passages are told from the third-person point of view. C. Both passages are told from the point of view of various characters.D. Both passages are told from the point of view of the main character.

2. Bubble in the letter before the sentence that shows similar themes in Passage 1 and Passage 2. (RL.3.9)

“Everyone laughed at Midas, except Apollo, who became Ⓐangry. He looked at the ears of Midas. They did not know the sound Ⓑof beautiful music. All at once King Midas felt his ears growing long Ⓒand furry. They had been changed into those of a donkey.

So Midas was punished by the gods a second time for hisⒹ foolishness. He was very much ashamed of those long, furry ears andⒺ after that always wore a great, purple hat to hide them.” (paragraphs 22-23)

3. Read the sentence below.

“But after a secret has once been told, it is not so easy to hide it.” (paragraph 26)

What is the meaning of the proverb as it is used in the passage? (RL.2.4; L. 3.5.b)

A. Secrets are exciting to share with others.

B. It is best to share secrets in a quiet place.

C. A secret can only be trusted with close friends.

D. Secrets cannot be taken back once they are shared.

4. How are the themes of both stories similar? (RL.3.9)

A. Both stories show how greed can lead to trouble.

B. Both stories show how secrets are best left unsaid.C. Both stories show how riches bring about happiness.

D. Both stories show how foolishness can lead to consequences.