"Hans in Luck" Excerpt

Passage from "Fairy Tales by the Brothers Grimm"

Some men are born to good luck: all they do or try to do comes right—all that falls to them is so much gain—all their geese are swans—all their cards are trumps...

One of these lucky beings was neighbor Hans. Seven long years he had worked hard for his master. At last he said, "Master, my time is up; I must go home and see my poor mother once more: so pray pay me my wages and let me go."

And the master said, "You have been a faithful and good servant, Hans, so your pay shall be handsome." Then he gave him a lump of silver as big as his head.

Hans took out his pocket-handkerchief, put the piece of silver into it, threw it over his shoulder, and jogged off on the road towards home.

As he went lazily on, dragging one foot after another, a man came in sight, trotting gaily along on a capital horse.

"Ah!" said Hans aloud, "what a fine thing it is to ride on horseback! There he sits as easy and happy as if he was at home, in the chair by his fireside; he trips against no stones, saves shoe-leather, and gets on he hardly knows how."

Hans did not speak softly, so the horseman heard it all, and said, "Well, friend, why do you go on foot then?"

"Ah!" said he, "I have this load to carry: to be sure it is silver, but it is so heavy that I can't hold up my head, and you must know it hurts my shoulder sadly."

"What do you say of making an exchange?" said the horseman. "I will give you my horse, and you shall give me the silver; which will save you a great deal of trouble in carrying such a heavy load about with you."

"With all my heart," said Hans: "but as you are so kind to me, I must tell you one thing—you will have a weary task to draw that silver about with you."

However, the horseman got off, took the silver, helped Hans up, gave him the bridle into one hand and the whip into the other, and said, "When you want to go very fast, smack your lips loudly together, and cry 'Jip!' "

Hans was delighted as he sat on the horse, drew himself up, squared his elbows, turned out his toes, cracked his whip, and rode merrily off, one minute whistling a merry tune, and another singing,

"No care and no sorrow,

A fig for the morrow!

We'll laugh and be merry,

Sing neigh down derry!"

Reading Comprehension Questions

1) In the above passage, the character of Hans is described as which of the following?

a. cursed

b. annoyed

c. fortunate

d. anxious

2) The passage above is the start of a story. Based on the context, the character of Hans most likely serves as which of the following through rest of the story?

a. the antagonist

b. the protagonist

c. the adversary

d. the flat character

3) In the above passage, the phrase, "all their cards are trumps," is written in the first sentence. Based on the context, what would happen if you pulled a "trump card" while playing a card game?

a. you would be accused of trying to cheat

b. you would have a good chance of winning the game

c. you would most likely lose the game

d. you would be protesting the rules of the game

4) In the above passage, the character Hans would most likely agree with which statement?

a. "Money is the most important thing in the world"

b. "Walking is more honorable than riding"

c. "It is terrible to have things weighing you down"

d. "Working hard is a waste of time"

5) At the end of the above passage, Hans recites which of the following after riding off on the horse?

a. a riddle

b. a verse

c. a joke

d. a warning

6) In the above passage, which of the following sentences features a simile?

a. "You have been a faithful and good servant, Hans, so your pay shall be handsome..."

b. "...to be sure it is silver, but it is so heavy that I can't hold up my head"

c. "he gave him a lump of silver as big as his head..."

d. "As he went lazily on, dragging one foot after another, a man came in sight"

Answer Key

1) In the above passage, the character of Hans is described as which of the following?

a. cursed

b. annoyed

c. fortunate

d. anxious

2) The passage above is the start of a story. Based on the context, the character of Hans most likely serves as which of the following through rest of the story?

a. the antagonist

b. the protagonist

c. the adversary

d. the flat character

3) In the above passage, the phrase, "all their cards are trumps," is written in the first sentence. Based on the context, what would happen if you pulled a "trump card" while playing a card game?

a. you would be accused of trying to cheat

b. you would have a good chance of winning the game

c. you would most likely lose the game

d. you would be protesting the rules of the game

4) In the above passage, the character Hans would most likely agree with which statement?

a. "Money is the most important thing in the world."

b. "Walking is more honorable than riding."

c. "It is terrible to have things weighing you down."

d. "Working hard is a waste of time."

5) At the end of the above passage, Hans recites which of the following after riding off on the horse?

a. a riddle

b. a verse

c. a joke

d. a warning

6) In the above passage, which of the following sentences features a simile?

a. "You have been a faithful and good servant, Hans, so your pay shall be handsome..."

b. "...to be sure it is silver, but it is so heavy that I can't hold up my head"

c. "he gave him a lump of silver as big as his head..."

d. "As he went lazily on, dragging one foot after another, a man came in sight"