Three Languages - Adopted from BROTHERS GRIMM 'THE THREE LANGUAGES'

Summary: A count living in a cold, mountainous country was always unhappy despite his wealth. He constantly criticized his young son, believing the boy was slow and could learn nothing. Frustrated, the count sent his son to study under a great master in the south. When the son returned, he proudly said that he had learned to understand the language of dogs, birds, and frogs. The count became furious, thinking his son had learned foolish things, and ordered his guards to kill him.

The guards, however, spared the boy's life and let him escape. During his travels, the son's special gift helped him. In one village, he used his understanding of dogs to discover a hidden treasure guarded by them, which he shared with the villagers. Later, while journeying to an ancient city, he learned from frogs that the city's wise ruler had died and that a new leader was coming. When he entered the city, two doves whispered sacred words to him, and the people recognized him as the chosen one.

The boy, once rejected by his father, became a wise and beloved leader, proving that his unique knowledge and kindness were true forms of wisdom.


Exercises

A. Questions

1. What three things did the son learn when he was sent to the great master?

Answer: The son learned to understand the language of dogs, birds, and frogs.

2. What does the court order the guards to do to his son?

Answer: The court ordered the guards to take his son to the forest and kill him.

3. Why do you think that the guards do not follow their orders?

Answer: The guards did not follow their orders because they felt pity for the innocent and kind young man.

4. What does the son find out from the dogs around the tower?

Answer: The son found out that the dogs were guarding a hidden treasure that rightfully belonged to him.

5. What does the son find out from the frogs?

Answer: The frogs told him that the wise leader of the ancient city had dies and that a new leader was coming.

6. What type of birds help the son?

Answer: Two doves helped the son.

7. What do they do to help him?

Answer: The doves whispered sacred words in his ears, helping him to claim his title as the new leader.


B. Reference to context

He made him stay in his room with heavy books full of the writings of the greatest philosophers and mathematicians that have ever lived.

1. Who was made to stay in his room?

Answer: The count's son was made to stay in his room.

2. Who made him stay in his room?

Answer: The count, his father, made him stay in his room.

3. Why did he make him stay in his room?

Answer: He made him stay in his room because the count believed that his son was slow and wanted him to study and learn from the great philosophers and mathematicians.

4. What did he do with the books in his room?

Answer: The son only played with the books instead of studying them.

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