Question

The Golden Fish: A Retelling of a Russian tale

1The old fisherman floated on the Black Sea, boat bobbing from side to side as a frigid wind sliced through his threadbare sweater. Though the fisherman and his wife were struggling to survive without much money, he thought happily of the meager but delicious dinner of homemade bread that was waiting for him at home. Suddenly, he felt a sharp pull on the fishing line, and the fisherman heaved a large, shining, yellow fish onto the boat. Its fins sparkled like coins cascading from a treasure chest.

2The fish began to beg. “If you release me,” the fish blubbered, “I’ll give you everything you need.”

3The fisherman eyed the fantastic creature. “I am content with what I have, but I will let you go regardless,” the fisherman said as he plopped the fish back into the sea.

4When the sun’s heavy eyelids began to droop, the fisherman returned home through the town. He passed a wealthy man arguing with a shopkeeper about merchandise and sadly shook his head at the annoyed men as he entered his house.

5“What did you catch today?” his wife inquired as she handed him some morsels of bread. The fisherman related the story of the remarkable talking fish.

6“No fish and no wish? You threw away a lucky gift!” the wife scolded, her usual affectionate manner absent as she sent her husband back to ask for more food.

7The drowsy fisherman walked back to the water’s edge and called the name of every fish in the sea until finally the golden fish arrived on a small, sparkling wave.

8“My wife wants more food,” he told the fish, who simply nodded its scaly head and slipped back under water.

9After receiving more food, the wife sent the fisherman to ask the fish for a bigger house while she nervously picked at the expensive lobster feast spread before her. She became perpetually restless and irritable, pacing the house until the fisherman returned home each day to discover his wife’s latest longing.


What is the theme?
a
the destructive power of greed.
b
the terrible effects of poverty.
c
the powerful effects of thought.
d
the soothing power of nature.

Answer 1

a. The destructive power of greed.

The story illustrates how the wife's greed leads to her incessant desire for more and more, which ultimately leads to her destruction. She becomes increasingly restless and unhappy despite receiving everything she wants, and the fisherman's contentment is replaced by a constant feeling of dissatisfaction. The theme of the story is that greed can lead to destruction, and that contentment with what one has is ultimately more valuable than constantly striving for more.