World Literature (Aesop Fables)｜世界文学（イソップ童話）Lesson131: The Miller, His Son, and the Ass

PART A_1

Let’s learn vocabulary. Listen and repeat the words and the sentences with your tutor.

PART A_2

1.　overtake	/oh-ver-TEYK/
	-to come from behind another vehicle or a person and move in front of them
	Make sure to always check your rearview mirror before you overtake.
2.　vexed	/vekst/
	-annoyed, frustrated, or worried
	Hearing them spread rumors about him, Lucas became vexed.
3.　scramble	/SKRAM-buhl/
	-to move or climb quickly but with difficulty, often using your hands to help you
	The children scrambled from the monkey bars when their parents called out for them.
4.　uproar	/UHP-rawr/
	-loud complaints esp. by angry people, or a noisy state of confusion
	The debate that originally intended no harm turned to an uproar later on.
5.　tumble	/TUHM-buhl/
	-to fall quickly and without control
	Lisa doesn’t know how to ice skate, so she can’t help but tumble on the rink.

PART B_1

Let’s read the story. Please read them aloud, and I will check your pronunciation and intonation.

PART B_2

The Miller, His Son, and the Ass

One day, a long time ago, an old Miller and his Son were on their way to market with an Ass which they hoped to sell. They drove him very slowly, for they thought they would have a better chance to sell him if they kept him in good condition. As they walked along the highway, some travelers laughed loudly at them.

“What foolishness,” cried one, “to walk when they might as well ride. The most stupid of the three is not the one you would expect it to be.” The Miller did not like to be laughed at, so he told his son to climb up and ride. They had gone a little farther along the road when three merchants passed by. “Oho, what have we here?” they cried. “Respect old age, young man! Get down, and let the old man ride.”

Though the Miller was not tired, he made the boy get down and climbed up himself to ride, just to please the Merchants. At the next turnstile, they overtook some women carrying market baskets loaded with vegetables and other things to sell. “Look at the old fool,” exclaimed one of them. “Perched on the Ass, while that poor boy has to walk.” The Miller felt a bit vexed, but to be agreeable, he told the Boy to climb up behind him.

They had no sooner started out again than a loud shout went up from another company of people on the road. “What a crime,” cried one, “to load up a poor dumb beast like that! They look more able to carry the poor creature, than he to carry them.” “They must be on their way to sell the poor thing’s hide,” said another.

The Miller and his Son quickly scrambled down, and a short time later, the marketplace was thrown into an uproar as the two came along carrying the Donkey slung from a pole. A great crowd of people ran out to get a closer look at the strange sight.

The Ass did not dislike being carried, but so many people came up to point at him and laugh and shout, that he began to kick and bray, and then, just as they were crossing a bridge, the ropes that held him gave way, and down he tumbled into the river.

The poor Miller now set out sadly for home. By trying to please everybody, he had pleased nobody, and lost his Ass besides.

If you try to please all, you please none.

PART C_1

Let’s answer comprehension questions. Please answer them based on the story.

PART C_2

1.	Why did the Miller and his Son drive the Ass slowly on their way to the market?
2.	After being laughed at by some travelers, what did the Miller do?
3.	What happened to the Ass after he kicked and brayed from the pole?

PART D_1

Let’s discuss the story. Please answer the questions below and express your opinions.

PART D_2

1.	What do you think the Miller and his Son felt after being laughed at by the people they passed by?
2.	If the Ass could talk, what do you think he would say to the Miller, his Son, and the people around them?
3.	Is it important for all people to be pleased with what you do? Why or why not?
4.	In your opinion, what is the best way to please people?
5.	Describe an incident when you tried to please everybody with your actions.

REVIEW AND FEEDBACK

Now, let us review the things that you learned in this lesson.

ではこのレッスンで学んだことを振り返りましょう。

(Please give a short feedback on how your student did on your class.)

	Grammar 文法	Pronunciation 発音	Vocabulary 単語	Comprehension 理解
GOOD	文法の誤りはほとんどなく、完全な文章で話すことができる	ほとんどの単語をはっきりと正しく発音することができる	習った表現を適切に使うことができる	文章を理解し、質問に正しく答えることができる
FAIR	文法の誤りはあるが、完全な文章で話すことができる	発音の練習が必要な言葉がいくつかある	たまにミスはあるが、習った表現を適切に使うことができる	文章を完全に理解するのは難しく、質問に正しく答えられないときもある
POOR	文章で話すのは難しく、単語だけで話すことができる	発音の練習が必要である	習った単語と表現を少しだけ使うことができる	文章を理解するのは難しく、質問に答えるのは難しい

TUTOR FEEDBACK

GRAMMAR
Good:	Was able to speak in complete sentences with minimal grammatical errors.
Fair:	Was able to speak in complete sentences with evident grammatical errors.
Poor:	Was able to speak using words only.
PRONUNCIATION
Good:	Was able to pronounce most of the words clearly and correctly.
Fair:	Mispronounced a few words.
Poor:	Mispronounced most of the words.
VOCABULARY
Good:	Used appropriate expressions learned in class.
Fair:	Used appropriate expressions learned in class and made a few errors in word choice.
Poor:	Used only a few words and expressions.
COMPREHENSION
Good:	Was able to understand the passages and answer the questions correctly.
Fair:	Had a little difficulty in understanding passages and answering questions.
Poor:	Had a hard time understanding passages and answering questions.

Parts of this lesson material are based on:
An eBook from The Project Gutenberg.
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