WorksheetsSetting and Character in Dragonwings (Edgenuity)
Total questions: 24
Worksheet time: 32mins
The images in the film of horse-drawn carriages and cars make it clear that, in Dragonwings, Laurence Yep created
a truthful setting.
fictional characters.
an interesting plot.
an unrealistic scene.
Read the following excerpt from "The Boy Who Glowed.”
In the long distant past, upon the western shores of the Great Water, there lived a fisherman and his wife. They had no children and the nearest village was a day away. They lived alone, surrounded by rocky cliffs and dull, gray skies. Each day, the fisherman would go out upon the Great Water. His wife would sit on the beach watching the birds with their young circling in the sky and riding the waves. As the birds chatted and dove for minnows, she called out, "Oh, sea birds, how I wish I had children like you to keep me company during these long, gray days.”
The description of this setting emphasizes how the wife of the fisherman feels because
the faraway location mirrors the distrust she has of the people who live in the village.
the isolation of her home emphasizes her desire to live closer to the village and its people.
the cold landscape’s desolation reflects the sadness she feels about not having any children.
the closeness to the ocean shows readers that she has a deep love for the open sea.
Read the following excerpt from "The Boy Who Glowed.”
Back on land, the boy began to collect the feathers of birds that littered the cliffs and the dunes. He made himself a pair of giant wings that he strapped to his back, and the wings carried him out across the Great Water. As the boy flew, the gray seas turned golden and glowed with a soft light. The sky at the edge of the horizon was painted with vibrant reds and oranges. The boy returned to the home in which he was raised and spoke kindly to the fisherman and his wife.
Based on this excerpt, what inference can be made about the boy?
He is a wicked spirit who will bring trouble to the fisherman and his wife.
He is a good spirit who will protect and bring happiness to the fisherman and his wife.
He is a mischievous spirit who will play many tricks on the fisherman and his wife.
He is a gloomy spirit who will bring much sorrow to the fisherman and his wife.
Read this passage from Dragonwings by Laurence Yep.
During those trips alone among the demons, Father and I learned things about one another; and more, we learned about being a father and a son. Every trip was an adventure into a strange, fearful city; and yet I felt safe by my father's side. Anyone who could laugh and tell stories and jokes and sing while he was alone among the demons must know what he was doing. In my own mind, Father was the embodiment of Uncle's superior man.
Only once during all those trips did we have any trouble. Some demon boys were out in the street. They stooped as if to pick up things to throw, and Father whispered to me to sit up straight and not show I was afraid. The demon boys called out some things, but we ignored them until we had passed them by. A rock whizzed by my ear and hit Red Rabbit in the side. He snorted, but plodded on as steadily as before.
How does this passage show the types of problems Chinese immigrants faced in the early 1900s?
The boys are throwing rocks at the narrator and his father because they are Chinese.
The narrator calls the boys demons instead of calling them Americans.
The horse has a traditional Chinese name, Red Rabbit, instead of an American name.
The narrator and his father ignore the boys instead of confronting them for their actions.
Read this passage from Dragonwings by Laurence Yep.
I had been in the demon land for only ten months, so it would have been about January of the demons' year 1904, when we met Mr. Alger. I remember it was a gray, wintry day. We were making the rounds when we saw one of the horseless carriages stranded by the sidewalk and a demon in a big overcoat standing beside it. His driving cap was pushed back, and he was scratching his forehead in a puzzled way. The metal hood on the front of the horseless had been folded back on top so you could see into its innards.
"Whoa, Red Rabbit." Father pulled at the reins and Red Rabbit stopped. Father set the brake, and as an extra precaution he put the wooden block behind the wheel.
"Can I help?" he asked.
The demon was a big, cheerful-looking demon with a bland, round face. He eyed father. "I dunno, John." Many demons called Tang men John because, they insisted, they never could get the hang of our real names. "You know anything about horselesses?"
Which detail from the setting leads Father and the man to communicate?
the broken-down horseless carriage
the gray, wintry day
the man’s cheerful-looking face
the horse, Red Rabbit
Read this passage from Dragonwings by Laurence Yep.
During those trips alone among the demons, Father and I learned things about one another; and more, we learned about being a father and a son. Every trip was an adventure into a strange, fearful city; and yet I felt safe by my father's side. Anyone who could laugh and tell stories and jokes and sing while he was alone among the demons must know what he was doing. In my own mind, Father was the embodiment of Uncle's superior man.
Based on the description of the setting in this passage, how does the narrator most likely feel about American cities?
He finds them exciting and full of adventure.
He finds them funny and entertaining.
He finds them unfamiliar and frightening.
He finds them evil and terribly wicked.
Read this passage from Dragonwings by Laurence Yep.
I had been in the demon land for only ten months, so it would have been about January of the demons' year 1904, when we met Mr. Alger. I remember it was a gray, wintry day. We were making the rounds when we saw one of the horseless carriages stranded by the sidewalk and a demon in a big overcoat standing beside it. His driving cap was pushed back, and he was scratching his forehead in a puzzled way. The metal hood on the front of the horseless had been folded back on top so you could see into its innards.
How does the description of the day as gray and wintry emphasize the narrator’s feelings about life in the new country
The day is cold and uninviting, like the people and their cities.
The color of the day is the same as that of the car’s machinery.
The winter day gives promise of a new beginning in the future.
The cloudy day reflects the narrator’s negative thoughts.
Read this passage from Dragonwings by Laurence Yep.
"Very good." Father took the card and put it carefully away in his pocket. "Did you see that demon's face, Moon Shadow? He was surprised when I fixed his carriage. Machines aren't all bad. Some of them may be the true magic. We might not be able to speak too well with the demons, but in machines there's a language common to us all. You don't have to worry about your accent when you're talking about numbers and diagrams."
I was getting excited. "Maybe the Dragon King was right. Maybe the magic takes a different form in our land. Maybe that's why you don't need words for it."
Father wiped his hands on an old rag in the back of the wagon. Then he held up his hands. He had not been able to get off all the oil, for the lines of his hands were still black.
"Well, you know, repairing the horseless carriage was a lot like healing the Dragon King. My hands just seemed to know what to do."
In this passage, what revelation do the narrator and his father have about the setting?
that the Americans may not be demons after all
that magic is more important than modern machinery
that a common language is not always necessary for communication
that it will be difficult to find a common ground with the Americans
Read this passage from Dragonwings by Laurence Yep.
"Some," Father said. Truth to tell, he had never handled a horseless carriage in his life, though he had a book on them and cut out articles whenever they appeared in the demon magazines and newspapers. That was the extent of Father's knowledge. But to know facts is nothing. He had an intuitive feeling for what made the horseless carriages tick. He looked around inside the engine for about ten minutes and then wiped his face absentmindedly, so that the grease-stained his cheek. He did not even notice.
What is the best inference about Father, based on his actions in the passage?
Father’s response to the man shows he is unaware and weak.
Father’s response to the man shows he is helpful and confident.
Father’s response to the man shows he is unhappy and resentful.
Father’s response to the man shows he is honest and educated.
Read this passage from Dragonwings by Laurence Yep.
The demon was a big, cheerful-looking demon with a bland, round face. He eyed father. "I dunno, John." Many demons called Tang men John because, they insisted, they never could get the hang of our real names. "You know anything about horselesses?"
"Some," Father said. Truth to tell, he had never handled a horseless carriage in his life, though he had a book on them and cut out articles whenever they appeared in the demon magazines and newspapers. That was the extent of Father's knowledge. But to know facts is nothing. He had an intuitive feeling for what made the horseless carriages tick. He looked around inside the engine for about ten minutes and then wiped his face absentmindedly, so that the grease stained his cheek. He did not even notice.
Which quote from this passage is an example of indirect characterization?
“The demon was a big, cheerful-looking demon with a bland, round face.”
“Many demons called Tang men John because, they insisted, they never could get the hang of our real names.”
“He had an intuitive feeling for what made the horseless carriages tick.”
“He looked around inside the engine for about ten minutes and then wiped his face absentmindedly, so that the grease stained his cheek.”
Read this passage from Dragonwings by Laurence Yep.
The demon was a big, cheerful-looking demon with a bland, round face. He eyed father. "I dunno, John." Many demons called Tang men John because, they insisted, they never could get the hang of our real names. "You know anything about horselesses?"
"Some," Father said. Truth to tell, he had never handled a horseless carriage in his life, though he had a book on them and cut out articles whenever they appeared in the demon magazines and newspapers. That was the extent of Father's knowledge. But to know facts is nothing. He had an intuitive feeling for what made the horseless carriages tick. He looked around inside the engine for about ten minutes and then wiped his face absentmindedly, so that the grease stained his cheek. He did not even notice.
Which quote from the passage is an example of direct characterization?
“The demon was a big, cheerful-looking demon with a bland, round face. He eyed father.”
“Truth to tell, he had never handled a horseless carriage in his life, though he had a book on them and cut out articles whenever they appeared in the demon magazines and newspapers.”
“That was the extent of Father's knowledge. But to know facts is nothing.”
“He looked around inside the engine for about ten minutes and then wiped his face absentmindedly, so that the grease stained his cheek.”
Read this passage from Dragonwings by Laurence Yep.
Only once during all those trips did we have any trouble. Some demon boys were out in the street. They stooped as if to pick up things to throw, and Father whispered to me to sit up straight and not show I was afraid. The demon boys called out some things, but we ignored them until we had passed them by. A rock whizzed by my ear and hit Red Rabbit in the side. He snorted, but plodded on as steadily as before.
Based on the actions in this passage, what inference can be made about the narrator’s father?
He is too afraid to stand up to the “demon” boys.
He is strong and confident even in times of trouble.
He is unaware of the trouble caused by the boys.
He is more concerned about looking brave than being safe.
Read the following passage from Dragonwings by Laurence Yep.
"Know where there's a garage?" the demon finally asked.
Father only grunted. His eyes were shining. He had hardly heard the demon until the demon tapped him on the shoulder. "You sabe me? Garage. Repair my Oldsmobile." As happens sometimes between two people speaking different languages, the demon had begun to shout at Father as if Father were deaf and the demon could make his words better understood by being loud.
Based on the man’s words in this passage, the reader can conclude that
he lacks confidence in Father’s ability to fix the horseless carriage.
he has had a lot of interactions with other Chinese immigrants.
he is a cruel and heartless man who cares only about himself.
he is eager to give Father a job working in his real estate office.
Which quote from Dragonwings by Laurence Yep best shows that the owner of the broken down car would probably welcome Father's help in the future?
“Many demons called Tang men John because, they insisted, they never could get the hang of our real names.”
“He had hardly heard the demon until the demon tapped him on the shoulder. ‘You sabe me? Garage. Repair my Oldsmobile.’”
“The demon stopped and studied Father as you might look at a dog that had suddenly said he was going to the opera.”
He reached into a pocket of his waistcoat and took out a card, and handed it to Father with a flourish.
Which quote from Dragonwings by Laurence Yep best shows that the man is pleasantly surprised by Father’s refusal to take the tip?
“The demon stopped and studied Father as you might look at a dog that had suddenly said he was going to the opera. ‘Well, I'll be damned,’ he said.”
“‘Here, John.’ The demon unbuttoned his coat and reached into his pants pocket, but Father shook his head.”
“Skeptically, the demon got back behind the wheel while Father went to the front near the crank to start the motor.”
“He had hardly heard the demon until the demon tapped him on the shoulder. ‘You sabe me? Garage. Repair my Oldsmobile.’”
Which detail can be found in both the story Dragonwings by Laurence Yep and the film?
police uniforms
boys throwing rocks
women in long gowns
horse-drawn carriages
Which realistic detail from the film is included in Dragonwings by Laurence Yep?
streets being shared by horse-drawn carriages and cars
many pedestrians walking on the street and sidewalk
trolleys continuously driving down the middle of the street
crowds of people and various machines swarming the streets
What detail was present in the film and used by Yep to create a realistic setting in Dragonwings?
the fact that streets were shared by horse-drawn carriages and the new horseless carriages
the prejudice that many Chinese immigrants faced upon their arrival in the United States
the hustle and bustle typical of US city streets during this time period
the types of encounters that happened between white Americans and Chinese immigrants
The images in the film of busy streets with many pedestrians and vehicles clarify why the narrator in Dragonwings thinks that
“Father was the embodiment of Uncle’s superior man.”
“magic takes a different form in our land.”
“every trip was an adventure into a strange, fearful city.”
“there are good demons and bad demons.”
To provide evidence of the possible difficulties the narrator and his father encounter in Dragonwings, the film would need to include images of
more conversations between US citizens and Chinese immigrants.
a broken-down horseless carriage next to the sidewalk.
more mean-looking Americans walking down the streets.
a larger number of horse-drawn carriages and cars.
A narrative’s setting is
the time and place in which the story takes place.
the influences that control a character’s actions.
the place where important events occur.
the time period in which the story begins.
Read this passage from Dragonwings by Laurence Yep.
"Whoa, Red Rabbit." Father pulled at the reins and Red Rabbit stopped. Father set the brake, and as an extra precaution he put the wooden block behind the wheel.
"Can I help?" he asked.
The demon was a big, cheerful-looking demon with a bland, round face. He eyed father. "I dunno, John." Many demons called Tang men John because, they insisted, they never could get the hang of our real names. "You know anything about horselesses?"
Which detail shows that white people and Chinese people struggled with interacting with each other in the early 1900s?
The father stops to help the stranded man.
The man is cheerful-looking.
The man calls the father John.
There is a horseless carriage.
Read this passage from Dragonwings by Laurence Yep.
The demon stopped and studied Father as you might look at a dog that had suddenly said he was going to the opera. "Well, I'll be damned," he said. He reached into a pocket of his waistcoat and took out a card, and handed it to Father with a flourish. “I can use honest handymen like you. You come around anytime, you sabe me?”
Based on the content of this passage, it can be inferred that the man
will immediately forget that Father fixed his carriage.
will give Father his own horseless carriage.
will never have contact with another Chinese man.
will give Father a great opportunity at his office.
Which detail is included in Dragonwings by Laurence Yep, but not in the film?
a trolley
bicycles
a driving cap
horseless carriages
