Character. A character is a person (or sometimes an animal) who takes part in the action of a literary work. Major characters are ones who play important roles in a literary work. Minor characters are ones who play less important roles. The main character of a literary work is the protagonist. As you read this story, try to determine who the main character is and who the other major characters are.
Suspense. Suspense is a feeling of anxiousness or curiosity. Writers create suspense by raising questions in the reader’s mind and by using details that create strong emotions. Look for points in this story that are suspenseful.
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• Science Connection. The horse originated in North America about 50 million years ago. About 2.5 million years ago, ancestors of modern horses crossed the then-existing land bridge into Asia. Later the horse died out in North America and did not reappear until it was introduced by Spanish explorers in the 1500s.
• History Connection. No one knows for certain when wild horses were first tamed, or domesticated. By 2000 bc, the Scythian peoples of Central Asia were riding horses and using both saddles and stirrups. The Scythians introduced the horse to ancient Greece, where riding and managing horses became a passion. Throughout the later history of Europe and Asia, horses were extremely important as draft animals, used to pull wagons, plows, and other burdens. Horses were also used for transportation, for sport, and in warfare. Herds of wild horses descended from domestic horses that escaped from their European owners. Some of these still exist in the American West. Many Native peoples of the American West, and particularly of the prairies, became accomplished riders of wild horses that they captured and trained. Training a wild horse to accept a rider is a difficult, demanding undertaking.
• For thousands of years, people have bred horses to meet particular needs. Such breeding resulted in three main types of horses: large, heavy draft horses like the Belgian; light saddle or riding horses like the Arabian and the Thoroughbred; and very small ponies like the Shetland. A male horse is a stallion; a female is a mare. Young horses are called foals. Male foals are called colts, and female foals are called fillies. A foal that has reached the age of one year is known as a yearling. The height of a horse is measured in units known as hands. A hand is equal to four inches.
If you could have any realistic wish come true, what would it be? What does this wish reveal about you?
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