The King of the Golden River - Illustrated by Arthur Rackham
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What’s inside...
Demonstrating the strength of love over evil, this fantasy fable is a classic children's story and has been brought to life by Arthur Rackham's illustrations. First written in 1841, John Ruskin penned this classic Victorian tale for young Effie Gray. The thrilling adventure story is a triumph of English literature. An epic saga with many twists and turns, The King of the Golden River offers explanations for natural parts of life and encourages children to be curious and inquisitive. Arthur Rackham produced beautiful illustrations for the fairy tale in 1932, and his artwork is featured in this edition.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
5-17
Length
51 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What do you think motivated the older brothers to be unkind and greedy? How would you have acted differently?
Gluck is kind-hearted and generous. Can you think of a time when you helped someone and how it made you feel?
The South-West Wind, Esquire, turns everything into gold. What would you do if you had the power to change one thing in our world? What would it be and why?
What lessons do you think the King of the Golden River wanted to teach the brothers? Did they learn their lesson by the end of the story?
If you were to create your own magical kingdom like the Golden River, what would it look like and what rules would you make?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to imagine and describe their version of the Golden River. This enhances creativity and personal connection to the story.
Discuss the moral dilemmas presented in the book. This will help your child understand ethics and the consequences of our actions.
Use parallels from the story to real-life situations to cultivate empathy and social awareness in your child.
Ask your child to draw or write a continuation of the story, focusing on what they think happens next. This fosters their narrative skills and allows them to think critically about story outcomes.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: The importance of kindness and generosity
Explanation: In 'The King of the Golden River,' the kind and generous actions of the youngest brother, Gluck, are rewarded by the transformation of the river into gold. In contrast, his greedy brothers are punished for their selfishness.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to share with others and understand the value in treating people with kindness, which can lead to positive outcomes in their own lives.
Example Lesson: The consequences of greed
Explanation: The story vividly portrays how the older brothers' greed leads to their ultimate downfall, highlighting the negative impacts of such behavior.
Real-World Application: This lesson helps children understand the importance of being content with what they have and the potential negative consequences of excessive greed in real-life situations like sharing with siblings or classmates.
Example Lesson: Respect for nature
Explanation: Gluck’s harmonious relationship with the environment, in stark contrast to his brothers' exploitative approach, illustrates the benefits of respecting and caring for nature.
Real-World Application: Children are encouraged to take care of their surroundings, understand the impact of their actions on the environment, and engage in activities that promote ecological health.
Example Lesson: The impact of choices
Explanation: Throughout the book, the characters' fates are determined by the choices they make, teaching readers about the importance of decision-making.
Real-World Application: This can help children think critically about the choices they make daily and encourage them to consider the long-term effects of their decisions.
Example Lesson: The power of perseverance
Explanation: Gluck’s determination and refusal to be swayed by his brothers' negative influences is a testament to his perseverance, which ultimately leads to his reward.
Real-World Application: This can inspire children to stay determined in their endeavors, be it academic challenges or personal goals, and not be discouraged by setbacks or negative influences.