The Truth About the Dragon's Tooth

1. Reread the first stanza of the poem. How do stanzas 2 and 3 building on stanza 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."

• A. They show the knight deciding to be brave.

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

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

• D. They show others telling the knight he is doomed.

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

• A. The dragon attacks the knight and his horse.

• B. The knight charges the dragon with his lance.

• C. The giant marches toward the knight and dragon.

• D. Some tree are cut down in the forest nearby.

3. This question has two parts. First, answer Part A. Then answer Part B.

Part A

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

• A. 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.

• B. 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.

• C. In stanza 5, the knight is afraid of the dragon and the giant. In stanza 6 and 7 , realizes the dragon is the giant's pet.

• D. 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.

4. Part B

Choose two details from the poem that supports your answer to Part A.

• A. "Then the giant shouted happily, 'Why, I've found you, little one!'"

• B. "I rode into the mountains and faced the dangerous beast."

• C. "The dragon was the giant's pet, scooped up in one giant hand."

• D. "Then the trees behind it crashed and fell as a giant marched in view!"

• E. "The earth beneath began to shake, his figure blocked the sun."

5. What does the giant do in stanza 9?

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

• B. He blocks the sun as he walks along.

• C. He throws the "monster fang" to the knight.

• D. He makes the earth shake as he marches.

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

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

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

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

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

7. Reread the second stanza.

As I dressed in shining armor

and sharpened sward and lance,

a voice inside me whispered,

"You haven't got a chance!"

Which three words help you understand that "lance" is a type of weapon?

• A. dressed, armor, sword

• B. armor, sharpened, sword

• C. shining, armor, chance

• D. dressed, shining, chance

8. At the beginning of the poem, you think you will be reading about a knight fighting a dragon. What evidence in stanzas 6 through 9 changes the story? Choose two.

• A. Then the giant shouted happily, "Why, I've found you little one!" (stanza 6)

• B. The king called me to his throne and said, "That dragon must be slayed!" (stanza 1)

• C. I raised my lance to charge it, thinking, What else can I do? (stanza 5)

• D. The dragon was the giant's pet, scooped up in one huge hand. (stanza 7)

• E. He reached into the dragon's mouth and wiggled out a monster fang, Then tossed it through the air at me.