(Pre-Intermediate)The Aged Mother by Matsuo Basho

story

Once upon a time, in a land called Shining, there lived a poor farmer and his elderly mother. They lived a simple life at the foot of a mountain, growing their food and cherishing each other's company.

However, their peaceful life was interrupted by a cruel proclamation from the despotic leader of Shining. He ordered that all elderly people be put to death. Despite his sorrow, the farmer knew he had to obey.

With a heavy heart, he prepared to take his mother up the treacherous mountain, where the aged were left to die. He loaded her onto his back and began the journey, not knowing which path to take.

But the wise old mother, despite her frailty, had a plan. As they climbed, she quietly dropped twigs along the path to mark their way, ensuring they could find their way back down.

 

When they reached the summit, the son tearfully prepared a comfortable place for his mother to rest before saying goodbye. But the mother, full of love and wisdom, urged him to look carefully and follow the path of twigs back home.

Overwhelmed by his mother's selflessness, the son vowed not to leave her. Together, they descended the mountain, following the trail of twigs until they reached their home safely.

Their ordeal was not over yet, as another unreasonable demand from the governor threatened their lives. The ruler demanded that his subjects give him a rope made of ashes. The entire province was scared. One night, the son told his mother quietly.

The next day, his mother told him to make a rope from twisted straw, then lay it on flat stones and burn it on a calm night. He gathered the people and did what she said. When the fire stopped, there on the stones was a rope made of ashes, with every twist and fiber perfectly visible.

But the mother, ever resourceful, devised a clever plan to fulfill the demand and save her son.

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Impressed by the farmer's wisdom and devotion to his mother, the governor abolished the cruel law, realizing that strength alone was not enough to lead a just society.

And so, the farmer and his mother lived out their days in peace, their story becoming a legend of love, wisdom, and the power of familial bonds.

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Words and Idioms

⠂Proclamation (noun): An official announcement or declaration made by authority.

⠂Despotic (adjective): Acting like a tyrant; exercising absolute power and control.

⠂Treacherous (adjective): Full of dangers and hazards; risky or unsafe.

⠂Frailty (noun): Physical weakness or delicacy; the condition of being fragile or easily damaged.

⠂Selflessness (noun): The quality of putting the needs and interests of others before one's own; altruism.

⠂Resourceful (adjective): Skilled at finding solutions to problems; able to use available resources effectively.

⠂Devotion (noun): Deep love, commitment, or dedication to someone or something.

⠂Legend (noun): A traditional story or narrative that is widely accepted as historical but lacks verifiable evidence.

⠂With a heavy heart (Phrases): Feeling deep sadness or sorrow.

⠂Tearfully prepared (Phrases): Preparing something while crying or expressing deep emotion.

⠂Overwhelmed by (Phrases): Feeling overcome or deeply affected by something, often in a negative or intense way.

⠂Lived out their days (Phrases): Spent the remainder of their lives; existed peacefully until the end.

⠂Cherishing each other's company (Idioms): Enjoying spending time together; valuing each other's presence and companionship.

⠂Full of love and wisdom (Idioms): Possessing a great deal of affection and insight; showing both care and intelligence.

⠂Follow the path (Idioms): Literally, to walk along a physical path. Figuratively, to adhere to a particular course of action or direction.

⠂Fulfill the demand (Idioms): To satisfy or meet the requirements of a request or command.

⠂Lead a just society (Idioms): Govern a community or nation with fairness, equality, and integrity.

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Questions

1. What challenge did the farmer and his mother face in the story?

a) Finding water in the desert

b) Climbing a treacherous mountain

c) Escaping from a dragon's cave

d) Building a new home

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2. How did the farmer and his mother solve the governor's demand for a rope made of ashes?

a) They bought it from a nearby town

b) They wove it from straw and burned it on flat stones

c) They used magic to create it

d) They asked the governor for more time

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3. Why did the farmer and his mother mark their path with twigs as they climbed the mountain?

a) To collect firewood

b) To remember where they had been

c) To play a game

d) To decorate the mountain

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4. What did the governor do after witnessing the farmer's clever solution to his demand?

a) He punished the farmer and his mother

b) He abolished the cruel law

c) He demanded more impossible tasks

d) He ignored them and left the province

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5. What does the rope made of ashes symbolize in the story?

a) The power of magic

b) The importance of following orders blindly

c) The strength of familial bonds and resourcefulness

d) The cruelty of the governor

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6. What lesson can be learned from the story of the farmer and his mother?

a) Always obey authority figures, no matter what

b) Family love and wisdom can overcome challenges

c) Only the strong survive in society

d) Never trust anyone in positions of power

Short Writing

1. Describe a time when you had to overcome a difficult challenge with the help of a family member or friend.

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2. If you were in the farmer's situation, what would you have done to outsmart the governor's cruel demands?

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3. Write a story about a magical object that helps someone overcome a great obstacle.

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Answer Keys

1. b) Climbing a treacherous mountain

2. b) They wove it from straw and burned it on flat stones

3. b) To remember where they had been

4. b) He abolished the cruel law

5. c) The strength of familial bonds and resourcefulness

6. b) Family love and wisdom can overcome challenges

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Short Writing

1. When I was struggling with a tough math assignment, my older sister came to my rescue. She patiently sat with me, explaining concepts and solving problems step by step. Her encouragement and support gave me the confidence to keep going even when I felt overwhelmed. With her guidance, I eventually grasped the concepts and completed the assignment successfully. It taught me the importance of seeking help from loved ones when facing challenges and the power of perseverance.

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1. If I found myself in the farmer's shoes, facing the governor's unreasonable demands, I would have tried to appeal to his sense of reason and compassion. Instead of blindly obeying, I would have presented alternative solutions that could fulfill his requests in a practical and humane way. Additionally, I might have sought support from other members of the community to collectively oppose the unjust laws. By standing together and using diplomacy rather than submission, we could have worked towards positive change and fairness for all.

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1. In a quaint village nestled in the heart of the forest, there was a young girl named Lily who faced an insurmountable obstacle: a towering wall of thorns blocked her path to the mystical garden where the cure for her ailing grandmother lay hidden. Determined to save her beloved grandmother, Lily stumbled upon a shimmering crystal pendant in the attic of her ancestral home. Little did she know, this pendant held extraordinary powers. With a whispered incantation, the pendant transformed into a gleaming sword, effortlessly slicing through the thorny barrier. Guided by the pendant's magical light, Lily reached the garden and harvested the healing herbs, ultimately saving her grandmother and unlocking the true potential of the magical object bestowed upon her by fate.

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