King Arthur and His Knights by Maude Radford Warren King Arthur by Maude Radford Warren    

Chapter 2: The Good Sword Excalibur

Performer: LibriVox - Robin Cotter

Directions

Study the chapter for one week.

Over the week:

• Read and/or listen to the chapter.
• Review the synopsis.
• Study the vocabulary words.
• Complete the enrichment activities.
• Answer the review questions.

Synopsis

Merlin and King Arthur travel through the land but are waylaid when a knight challenges Arthur to combat. Arthur triumphs, but breaks his sword, is gravely wounded, and must stop to be healed by a hermit. Merlin and King Arthur next come upon a beautiful lake. Three queens stand on the shore, and Merlin foretells the queens shall help Arthur at his worst need. Arthur meets the Lady of the Lake, who directs him to take a boat over the water to a mysterious white arm. The arm holds a magical scabbard that will protect Arthur from spilling his blood and a bejeweled sword. On the sword is written, 'Take me on one side, and cast me away on the other.' Merlin predicts that when Arthur casts the sword he will have encountered much strife. Merlin tells Arthur to use his new sword to enforce justice and right across the land.

Vocabulary

Hermit: A recluse or someone who lives alone and shuns human companionship.
Scabbard: The sheath or holster of a sword.
Excalibur: The legendary sword of King Arthur, having magical properties.
Lady of the Lake: An enchantress who plays a major role in Arthurian legend.
Damsel: A young woman.
Cast: To throw.
Foreshadowing: A literary device whereby an author drops hints or symbolic representations of plot developments to come later in the story.

Enrichment

Activity 1: Recite the Book Information

• Recite the name of the author, the title of the book, and the title of the chapter.

Activity 2: Narrate the Story

• Narrate the events aloud in your own words.

Activity 3: Study the Story Picture(s)

• Study the story picture(s) and verbally describe the relation to the story.

Activity 4: Discuss Foreshadowing in the Chapter

Foreshadowing is a literary device whereby an author drops hints or symbolic representations of plot developments to come later in the story.

Discuss the following instances of foreshadowing in the chapter:

• Merlin says, 'Three queens who shall help you at your worst need.'
• Arthur reads on the sword, 'Take me on one side and cast me away on the other.'
• Merlin knows, 'When the time came to cast the sword away, much evil would have befallen the good King Arthur.'

Hypothesize the types of plot developments that might occur later in the story.

• Will Arthur have an easy life, or will he encounter great difficulties?
• Will Arthur be able to keep the sword Excalibur?

Activity 5: Act Out a Passage

Practice acting out the following passage, with drama and feeling.

• My lord Arthur, which pleases you more, sword or scabbard? (Merlin)
• In truth, the sword. (King Arthur)
• Let me assure you, that the scabbard is worth ten of the sword. (Merlin)

Activity 6: Playact the Lady of the Lake

• Pretend you are King Arthur.
• Step into the boat and row out to the pure white arm rising from the surface of the lake.
• Take the sword and scabbard from the white arm.

Activity 7: Complete Written Narration   

• Click the crayon above, and complete page 123 of 'Fourth Grade Prose: Written Narration, Dictation, and Review Questions.'

Activity 8: Complete Copywork and Dictation   

• Click the crayon above, and complete pages 123-124 of 'Fourth Grade Prose: Written Narration, Dictation, and Review Questions.'

Activity 9: Color the Image   

• Click the crayon above, and complete page 124 of 'Fourth Grade Prose: Written Narration, Dictation, and Review Questions.'

Activity 10: Answer Written Review Questions   

• Click the crayon above, and complete page 125 of 'Fourth Grade Prose: Written Narration, Dictation, and Review Questions.'

Review

Question 1

Who will help Arthur at his worst need?

1 / 6

Answer 1

The three queens will help Arthur at his worst need.

1 / 6

Question 2

Who glides over the surface of the lake?

2 / 6

Answer 2

The Lady of the Lake glides over the surface of the lake.

2 / 6

Question 3

Why does Arthur row to the white arm protruding from the lake?

3 / 6

Answer 3

Arthur rows out the white arm to get the magical sword and scabbard.

3 / 6

Question 4

What does 'Take me on one side and cast me away on the other' mean?

4 / 6

Answer 4

Written on the sword, the saying foretells that Arthur must one day cast away the sword.

4 / 6

Question 5

Why is Merlin sad about King Arthur's future?

5 / 6

Answer 5

Merlin is sad because he knows much evil will befall King Arthur before he casts away the sword.

5 / 6

Question 6

What does Merlin ask Arthur to do with the sword?

6 / 6

Answer 6

Merlin asks Arthur to use the sword to make justice and right prevail throughout the land.

6 / 6

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1. Who will help Arthur at his worst need? The three queens will help Arthur at his worst need.
2. Who glides over the surface of the lake? The Lady of the Lake glides over the surface of the lake.
3. Why does Arthur row to the white arm protruding from the lake? Arthur rows out the white arm to get the magical sword and scabbard.
4. What does 'Take me on one side and cast me away on the other' mean? Written on the sword, the saying foretells that Arthur must one day cast away the sword.
5. Why is Merlin sad about King Arthur's future? Merlin is sad because he knows much evil will befall King Arthur before he casts away the sword.
6. What does Merlin ask Arthur to do with the sword? Merlin asks Arthur to use the sword to make justice and right prevail throughout the land.