Fiction Review

The sea witch’s words in paragraph 5 are significant to the story because they reveal that -

"5 "But I must be paid also," said the witch, "and it is not a trifle that I ask. You have the

sweetest voice of any who dwell here in the depths of the sea, and you believe that

you will be able to charm the prince with it also, but this voice you must give to me;

the best thing you possess will I have for the price of my draught. My own blood must

be mixed with it, that it may be as sharp as a two-edged sword.”

• becoming human is a painful experience

• the sea witch is trying to make the little mermaid fail

• becoming human comes at an immense cost

• the little mermaid will not be able to succeed

Paragraph 10 is mainly about the little mermaid’s -

"10 So she passed quickly through the wood and the marsh, and between the rushing whirlpools. She saw that in her father's palace the torches in the ballroom were extinguished, and all within asleep; but she did not venture to go in to them, for now she was voiceless and going to leave them forever, she felt as if her heart would break. She stole into the garden, took a flower from the flower-beds of each of her sisters, kissed her hand a thousand times towards the palace, and then rose up

through the dark blue waters. The sun had not risen when she came in sight of the prince's palace, and approached the beautiful marble steps, but the moon shone clear and bright. Then the little mermaid drank the magic draught, and it seemed as if a two-edged sword went through her delicate body: she fell into a swoon, and lay like one dead. When the sun arose and shone over the sea, she recovered, and felt a sharp pain; but just before her stood the handsome young prince. He fixed his coal black eyes upon her so earnestly that she cast down her own, and then became aware that her fish's tail was gone, and that she had as pretty a pair of white legs and tiny feet as any little maiden could have; but she had no clothes, so she wrapped herself in her long, thick hair. The prince asked her who she was, and where she came from, and she looked at him mildly and sorrowfully with her deep blue eyes; but she could not speak. Every step she took was as the witch had said it would be, she felt as if treading upon the points of needles or sharp knives; but she bore it willingly, and stepped as lightly by the prince's side as a soap-bubble, so that he and all who saw her wondered at her graceful-swaying movements. She was very soon arrayed in costly robes of silk and muslin, and was the most beautiful creature in the palace; but she was voiceless, and could neither speak nor sing."

• journey to the surface

• transformation into a human

• first meeting with the prince

• pain from leaving her home

Read this dictionary entry.

trifle \ ˈtrīfəl \ noun

1. a thing of little value 2. a small amount of something 3. a cold dessert or sponge cake 4. something without seriousness

Which definition of the word trifle is used in paragraph 5?

5 "But I must be paid also," said the witch, "and it is not a trifle that I ask. You have the sweetest voice of any who dwell here in the depths of the sea, and you believe that you will be able to charm the prince with it also, but this voice you must give to me; the best thing you possess will I have for the price of my draught. My own blood must be mixed with it, that it may be as sharp as a two-edged sword.”

• Definition 1

• Definition 2

• Definition 3

• Definition 4

The third-person point of view gives the reader insight into -

• the feelings the little mermaid has about becoming a human

• the sea witch's thoughts about the little mermaid

• the doubts the little mermaid's family has about her leaving

• the little mermaid's hesitation about ding the draught

The reader can conclude from the information in paragraph 2 that the little mermaid -

5 "But I must be paid also," said the witch, "and it is not a trifle that I ask. You have the

sweetest voice of any who dwell here in the depths of the sea, and you believe that

you will be able to charm the prince with it also, but this voice you must give to me;

the best thing you possess will I have for the price of my draught. My own blood must

be mixed with it, that it may be as sharp as a two-edged sword.”

• will regret her choice

• has not given her choice thought

• is second-guessing her decision

• loves the prince deeply

What is the primary theme of the story?

• People often have a desire to explore the unknown.

• Dreams often come with a cost.

• Trust should not be given freely.

• Leaving your family can bring heartache.

Which of the following best describes the little mermaid’s main problem in the story?

• She does not know how to act like a human.

• She thinks she might leave her family forever.

• She must win the prince’s love with no voice.

• She is in great pain when she walks on her new legs.

What does the sensory language in paragraph 1 help the reader understand?

1 ... I will prepare a draught for you, with which you must swim to land tomorrow before sunrise, and sit down on the shore and drink it. Your tail will then disappear, and shrink up into what mankind calls legs, and you will feel great pain, as if a sword were passing through you. But all who see you will say that you are the prettiest little human being they ever saw. You will still have the same floating gracefulness of movement, and no dancer will ever tread so lightly; but at every step you take it will feel as if you were treading upon sharp knives, and that the blood must flow. If you will bear all this, I will help you.”

• The darkness of the sea witch’s home.

• The doubts the little mermaid has.

• The details of how she will transform.

• The difficulty of changing into a human.

What is the meaning of the word draught in paragraph 1?

1 ... I will prepare a draught for you, with which you must swim to land tomorrow before sunrise, and sit down on the shore and drink it. Your tail will then disappear, and shrink up into what mankind calls legs, and you will feel great pain, as if a sword were passing through you. But all who see you will say that you are the prettiest little human being they ever saw. You will still have the same floating gracefulness of movement, and no dancer will ever tread so lightly; but at every step you take it will feel as if you were treading upon sharp knives, and that the blood must flow...

• a clear drink

• a charm spell

• a magic potion

• a deceptive spell