RL5 (Poems) Independent Practice

Reread the first stanza of the poem.

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.

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Stanzas 4–7 each add something new to the story. Write the correct stanza number on each line to show when the event occurs and how the story builds.

• 6

• A giant appears.

• 4

• The knight realizes the dragon is a pet.

• 7

• The giant sees the dragon.

• 5

• The knight meets the dragon.

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Stanzas 8-10 each add something new to the story. Write the correct stanza number on each line to show when the event occurs and how the story builds.

• 8

• The knight is afraid to tell what happened.

• 10

• The giant tosses the knight a dragon tooth.

• 9

• The giant realizes the knight needs proof.

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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.

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Part A

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.

Part B

Select one detail in stanza 6 and one detail in stanza 7 that

support your answer in Part A.

• 6

  The earth beneath began to shake,

  his huge figure blocked the sun.

• 6

  Then the giant shouted happily,

  “Why, I’ve found you, little one!”

• 7

  As he bent down to catch the dragon,

  I began to understand:

• 7

  The dragon was the giant’s pet,

  scooped up in one huge hand.

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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.

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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.

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Reread the second stanza.

As I dressed in shining armor

and sharpened sword and lance,

a voice inside me whispered,

“You haven’t got a chance!”

Which three words help you understand that a “lance” is a type

of weapon?

• dressed, armor, sword

• armor, sharpened, sword

• shining, armor, chance

• dressed, shining, chance

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Short Response

At the beginning of the poem, you think

you will be reading about a knight fighting a dragon. How do

stanzas 6 through 9 change the story? (Be sure to use the RACE strategy)

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