Tuesday, January 8, 2019 - " The Stag at the pool"

“The Stag at the Pool,” Aesop

The following passage is from a fable, or morality story, told by Aesop, an Ancient Greek writer. Read the passage. Then, answer the question(s).

A thirsty Stag went down to a pool to drink. As he bent over the surface he saw his own reflection in the water, and was struck with admiration for his fine spreading antlers, but at the same time he felt nothing but disgust for the weakness and slenderness of his legs. While he stood there looking at himself, he was seen and attacked by a Lion; but in the chase which ensued, he soon drew away from his pursuer, and kept his lead as long as the ground over which he ran was open and free of trees. But coming presently to a wood, he was caught by his antlers in the branches, and fell a victim to the teeth and claws of his enemy. “Woe is me!” he cried with his last breath; “I despised my legs, which might have saved my life: but I gloried in my horns, and they have proved my ruin.”

What is worth most is often valued least.

     

      1. Which of the following answer choices provides the best summary of the exposition of the story?

• A Stag was drinking at a pool and evaluating his reflection

• A Stag was proud of his fine set of antlers.

• A Stag was disgusted with his weak legs.

• A Stag fell victim to the teeth and claws of his enemy.

“The Stag at the Pool,” Aesop

The following passage is from a fable, or morality story, told by Aesop, an Ancient Greek writer. Read the passage. Then, answer the question(s).

A thirsty Stag went down to a pool to drink. As he bent over the surface he saw his own reflection in the water, and was struck with admiration for his fine spreading antlers, but at the same time he felt nothing but disgust for the weakness and slenderness of his legs. While he stood there looking at himself, he was seen and attacked by a Lion; but in the chase which ensued, he soon drew away from his pursuer, and kept his lead as long as the ground over which he ran was open and free of trees. But coming presently to a wood, he was caught by his antlers in the branches, and fell a victim to the teeth and claws of his enemy. “Woe is me!” he cried with his last breath; “I despised my legs, which might have saved my life: but I gloried in my horns, and they have proved my ruin.”

What is worth most is often valued least.

2. Which of the following sentences from the passage represents the climax of the story?

• [He] was struck with admiration for his fine spreading antlers, . . .

• While he stood there looking at himself, he was seen and attacked by a Lion

• he was caught by his antlers in the branches, and fell a victim to the teeth and claws of his enemy.

• “Woe is me!” he cried with his last breath; . . .

“The Stag at the Pool,” Aesop

The following passage is from a fable, or morality story, told by Aesop, an Ancient Greek writer. Read the passage. Then, answer the question(s).

A thirsty Stag went down to a pool to drink. As he bent over the surface he saw his own reflection in the water, and was struck with admiration for his fine spreading antlers, but at the same time he felt nothing but disgust for the weakness and slenderness of his legs. While he stood there looking at himself, he was seen and attacked by a Lion; but in the chase which ensued, he soon drew away from his pursuer, and kept his lead as long as the ground over which he ran was open and free of trees. But coming presently to a wood, he was caught by his antlers in the branches, and fell a victim to the teeth and claws of his enemy. “Woe is me!” he cried with his last breath; “I despised my legs, which might have saved my life: but I gloried in my horns, and they have proved my ruin.”

What is worth most is often valued least.

3. Which of the following lines from the passage presents the resolution of the story?

• While he stood there looking at himself, he was seen and attacked by a Lion.

• [I]n the chase which ensued, he soon drew away from his pursuer, and kept his lead as long as the ground over which he ran was open and free of trees.

• But coming presently to a wood, he was caught by his antlers in the branches, and fell a victim to the teeth and claws of his enemy.

• “I despised my legs, which might have saved my life: but I gloried in my horns, and they have proved my ruin.”