1a. What would Blackbeard sometimes do to make himself seem even more horrible than his reputation made him out to be?
2a. What does Governor Eden do about Blackbeard?
3a. How does Blackbeard face Lieutenant Maynard?
1b. What was he trying to make his enemies think about him?
2b. Why do you think the governor fails to capture or tame Blackbeard? Is it because the governor is afraid, or is it for some other reason?
3b. Why would he face danger this way?
4a. Analyze the Battle of Ocracoke and the circumstances surrounding the death of Blackbeard. When he jumps aboard the ship and faces Lieutenant Maynard, what does Blackbeard expect Maynard to do? Why isn't Maynard more afraid? How does Blackbeard reinforce his own reputation even as he is dying? Do you think this is intentional on his part?
4b. How has the oral tradition helped to continue the legend of Blackbeard? What details about his life and death do you think have been invented through the years as the story is told over and over? Explain your answer.
5a. There are many myths surrounding pirates and pirate life. In order to attract an audience, fiction writers, painters, television shows, and Hollywood movies have glamorized, romanticized, and demonized pirates. What elements in the legend you just read glamorize, romanticize, or demonize Blackbeard? Do you think Blackbeard was as terrible as his reputation made him out to be?
5b. What ideas come to mind when you think about pirates? How are these included in "Blackbeard's Last Fight"?
Legend. Which elements of his story, "Blackbeard's Last Fight," might be true? Explain. What about Blackbeard makes him such a legendary figure?
Characterization. What techniques does the author use to characterize Blackbeard in the story you just read? Which technique reveals the most about Blackbeard's character?
1. Imagine you are Charles Eden, the governor of North Carolina in 1718, and that you just received a letter from the governor of Virginia pleading with you to do something to stop Blackbeard. Write a response to the governor.
2. Imagine that you are a reporter doing a story on the Battle of Ocracoke. Write a short article for a local North Carolina newspaper describing the battle, what led up to it, and its outcome.
3. Imagine that you are a filmmaker and you have just completed a Hollywood production of "Blackbeard's Last Fight." Write the script for a brief preview of your film to be shown in theaters, announcing the film's upcoming release and enticing moviegoers to see it.
Using a Dictionary. Look up each of the following words in a dictionary and note how many definitions exist, the parts of speech it can assume, and its etymology.
1. booty number of definitions: parts of speech: etymology:
2. cow number of definitions: parts of speech: etymology:
3. ravage number of definitions: parts of speech: etymology:
4. scurvy number of definitions: parts of speech: etymology:
5. tuft number of definitions: parts of speech: etymology:
Simple Verb Tenses. In each of the sentences below, a verb is underlined. Decide whether this verb is in the present, past, or future tense.
1. People talk about Blackbeard today.
2. Maynard cut Blackbeard's head off.
3. In this reading, the author does discuss Blackbeard.
4. Most people didn't like his behavior.
5. Will anyone else ever behave like Blackbeard?
6. People still tell stories about the pirate.
7. Blackbeard even has a Web site.
8. I will write a report on Blackbeard.
9. Researchers identified artifacts from Blackbeard's ships.
10. I will research Blackbeard's life.
Digging for Further Information: Research Log. Use this log to keep track of the sources you use, the information you find, and your reactions to what you learn.
Internet sources:
Books and other print sources:
Notes:
