8th grade reading level
Myth synopsis and modern narrative with the same theme
Qaydafeh and Sekandar
The story of Qaydafeh and Sekandar comes from a tenth-century epic poem by Abolqasem Ferdowski. It appears in the book Shahnameh, the Persian Book of Kings.
Epic poems typically feature larger-than-life heroes and expansive settings. Many are loosely based on incidents from the distant past and convey moral lessons.
In this story, Sekandar is the powerful king of Greece and has conquered one region after another. He’s set his sights set on wealthy Andalusia, in Spain.
Sekandar travels to the palace there as a humble messenger from the king. The Andulsian Queen Qaydefeh recognizes him from a tapestry bearing his likeness but initially says nothing.
Sekandar’s message demands that she pay tribute or face war. The queen is enraged but doesn’t take it out on the messenger, which Sekandar is counting on for his own safety. Then, she reveals that she knows his true identity.
Sekandar is afraid the queen will command his death, ending the threat he poses to her kingdom. Despite his fear, Sekander is full of bravado and threats.
Qaydefeh responds with advice: first, that he should put away his “male pride” and not put himself in needless danger; and second, that a leader should be merciful and just.
Demonstrating these principles, Qaydafeh spares his life. Grateful and humbled, Sekandar agrees to be her ally. Meanwhile, Qaydafeh agrees to send significant riches to Sekandar, asserting that all the wealth in the world is not worth “the pain and sorrow of war.”
Qaydafeh explains that her son Taynush could threaten their alliance—he’s a hot-tempered fool who wants to assassinate Sekandar to avenge his father-in-law’s death, and he refuses to heed his mother’s council. Together, they set up a ruse to teach Taynush a lesson and protect the agreement.
Pretending again to be the messenger, Sekandar delivers the original message in front of Qaydafeh’s sons. As predicted, a furious and belligerent Taynush expresses his desire for vengeance.
The messenger offers to take Taynush to Greece and set up an ambush for Sekandar. In return, Taynush agrees to reward the messenger with fabulous wealth and eternal loyalty.
Once in Greece, Sekandar leaves Taynush in the woods and returns with a thousand soldiers. He reveals his true identity to Taynush, who’s terrified he’ll be punnished for plotting against the king.
Having learned the lessons of Qaydafeh, Sekandar spares Taynush’s life and lavishes valuables upon him. Taynush is relieved and grateful, and the alliance is secured.
The Tutoring Trick
As finals week approached, Mateo complained to his mother that he’d gone to his twin, Carlos, for help with English homework. Carlos had said, “I’ve decided to become a professional tutor, though, so you’ll need to compensate me for my time.”
“I reminded him of all the math help I’ve given him,” Mateo told their mother. “However, he claims it’s my fault I helped him for free.”
This perturbed their mother. Mateo was a conscientious student who diligently saved money. Meanwhile, Carlos took shortcuts and spent frivolously. She conspired with Mateo to teach Carlos an important lesson.
Carlos initially gloated about Mateo paying him for tutoring. Eventually, however, he asked Mateo to assist him with math.
“Absolutely,” Mateo responded, “but I’m a professional tutor now, too.”
Carlos realized his clever ploy hadn’t been particularly clever after all and regretted frittering away the money. He complained to their mother.
“I suspected it would come to this,” she admitted, “so I arranged for an online tutor. On this website, you exchange your time for someone else’s—so I signed you up to tutor English. Fair exchange, right?”
Carlos grudgingly agreed the exchange was fair. He gloated to Mateo that while he was getting help with math, all his extra time went into tutoring, so he couldn’t help Mateo with English.
“I might get better grades than you for once,” Carlos said.
“We’ll see,” Mateo said, concealing his pleasure.
When final grades were released, Carlos bragged about his high arithmetic grade. “I’m predicting that it’s better than Mateo’s English grade.”
Mateo held up his report card, silently contradicting Carlos’ baseless claim.
Carlos scowled. “How’d you accomplish that without my tutoring?”
Their mother appeared quite satisfied. “Mr. English tutor,” she admonished, “I’m certain you remember the myth of the Andalusian Queen Qaydafeh and the King of Greece.”
Carlos looked confused, then realization washed over him. “The one who conspired against her son to teach him a lesson?”
She nodded. “That very one. You see, that time-exchange tutoring site exists exclusively in my imagination. You’ve been tutoring Mateo, and he’s been simultaneously tutoring you, just as brothers should.”
The ruse had succeeded. After a long discussion about respect, hard work, and priorities, Carlos resolved that from then on, he’d help Mateo without demand or complaint, as a brother should.