The Fisherman and His Wife

The Fisherman and His WifeAnswer the following questions about the story.

1. Where did the fisherman and his wife live at the beginning of the story? 2. Why did the fisherman let the fish go? 3. What did the fishermans wife ask for first? 4. What did the fishermans wife ask for last? 5. Where did the fisherman and his wife live at the end of the story? Once upon a time there was a poor fisherman and his wife. They were so poor that they lived in a tiny hut by the side of the sea. One day when the fisherman was looking into the sea he felt a mighty tug on his fishing rod. He pulled and pulled and brought up a big fish. As he held the fish in his hand it opened its mouth and spoke Good fisherman. I am not really a fish. I am an enchanted Prince! Let me go. Oh! said the Fisherman, very surprised. You can speak! I had better let you go.

When the fisherman told his wife what had happened she was angry. That fish was a magic fish! You should have made it give you a wish before you set it free! His wife did not let the fisherman rest. She said over and over again that he should have made the fish promise them riches and a good house with a garden. So he went back to the sea and shouted to the waves: Oh, fish or man whatever you are, Come from the sea and speak some more! Im a poor fisherman, night and day. And what my wife wants I have to say! The fish came swimming up and said, What does your wife want? She wants a good house by the sea with a garden. Then go home, said the Fish and you will find her in her house and garden. And so the fisherman went back home and found his hut transformed into a lovely house with a garden on either side. His wife was very pleased. The next day the fisherman said, Wife, I hope you are pleased now and content with life. Not at all! said his wife. We should ask the fish for more! Go and tell the fish that I dont really want to live in a house I want to live in a palace! The fisherman refused at first. But after three days of his wife telling him to go to the fish, he did. Off to the sea he went and shouted to the waves: Oh, fish or man whatever you are, Come from the sea and speak some more! Im a poor fisherman, night and day. And what my wife wants I have to say! The fish swam up and said What does she want this time? The fisherman said, Now she wants to live in a palace! Go home, said the fish. you will find her in a palace. And lo and behold, when the fisherman got back home there was a big stone palace. At the gate were guards. The fisherman was let into the kitchen and in his rags he was led to his wife. Then they ate on silver plates. But the next week his wife said I dont just want to live in a palace! I want to be queen of all the land! Go and ask the fish again. The fisherman refused but eventually he agreed because his wife would not stop asking. He went to the sea and shouted to the waves. Oh, fish or man whatever you are, Come from the sea and speak some more! My wife asks for you to grant her wish, But all I want to do is fish! The fish said, What does she want now? The fisherman answered She wants to be queen, of all the land! Go back, said the fish and her wish will be fulfilled. And so the fisherman went home and found that his wife was now queen of the land. Within a month or two the fishermans wife was unhappy again. She told the fisherman that she could not be happy unless he went to the fish again and asked that she be put in control of the sun and the moon. The fisherman refused but he could get no peace from his wifes demands. So he agreed to ask the fish again. But this time he was afraid. He said But no one can tell the moon to rise; or the sun to set. You are ridiculous! But down to the sea he went again. Now the sea was no longer clear. The waves came crashing down and there was a storm gathering in the sky. There was lightning and thunder all around. The fisherman still spoke to the crashing waves: Oh, fish or man whatever you are, Come from the sea and speak some more! My wife wants more, she gives me pain, The sun and moon are now her aim! And what does she want now? asked the fish. She is no longer content to be queen of all the land. said the fisherman. She wishes to control the sun and the moon! Go home, said the fish. And you will find her in your old hut. This is what she deserves. When the fisherman got home there was his wife back in the old hut again. The wind whistled through the holes in the walls. Well said the fisherman. I was happy here and so I will be again. And his wife was sorry for all she had said and promised to be a better and more contented person from then on. And she was. Answer the following questions about the story.

1. Where did the fisherman and his wife live at the beginning of the story? 2. Why did the fisherman let the fish go? 3. What did the fishermans wife ask for first? 4. What did the fishermans wife ask for last? 5. Where did the fisherman and his wife live at the end of the story?