The Truth About the Dragon's Tooth

1.The King called me to his throne

and said, “That dragon must be slayed!”

I bowed and played the brave, strong knight,

but in truth….I was afraid.

How do stanzas 2 and 3 build on this opening?

• They show the knight deciding to be brave.

• They show that the knight doesn’t think he’ll survive.

• They show that the knight plans to ride home instead.

• They show others telling the knight he is doomed.

2. Write the correct stanza number on each line to show when the event occurs.

____________ The giant realizes the knight needs proof.

____________ A giant appears.

____________ The giant sees the dragon.

____________ The giant tosses the knight a dragon tooth.

____________ The knight meets the dragon.

____________ The knight is afraid to tell what happened.

____________ The knight realizes the dragon is a pet.

3. Stanza 6 begins, “The earth beneath began to shake.” What happens in stanza 5 that explains why the earth is shaking?

• The dragon attacks the knight and his horse.

• The knight charges the dragon with his lance.

• A giant marches toward the knight and dragon.

• Some trees are cut down in the forest nearby.

4. How do stanzas 6 and 7 change how the knight feels in stanza 5?

• In stanza 5, the knight is only worried about the dragon. In stanzas 6 and 7, he runs from both the dragon and the giant.

• In stanza 5, the knight is trying to figure out what else he can do. In stanzas 6 and 7, he comes up with a new plan.

• In stanza 5, the knight is afraid of the dragon and giant. In stanzas 6 and 7, he realizes the dragon is the giant’s pet.

• In stanza 5, the knight is getting ready to charge the dragon. In stanzas 6 and 7, he realizes the giant will slay the dragon.

5. What does the giant do in stanza 9?

• He makes the trees crash and fall to the ground.

• He blocks out the sun as he walks along.

• He throws the “monster fang” to the knight.

• He makes the earth shake as he marches.

6. In stanza 10, why is the knight afraid again?

• He is afraid he might be sent to fight another dragon.

• He worries that the people won’t like the real story of what happened.

• He is afraid that the giant will appear and tell the truth.

• He is afraid the tooth isn’t enough proof that he has slain the dragon.