1a. Why does the knight recommend Sir Patrick Spens? What is Sir Patrick's reaction when he reads the king's letter?
2a. What fear does one of Sir Patrick's men reveal in stanzas 6 and 7?
3a. Who is waiting for the Scot sailors in stanzas 9 and 20?
4a. List the signs that suggest Sir Patrick Spens should not make this voyage.
5a. Evaluate the king's motivation for ordering the voyage. Do you think he took the danger to the sailors seriously?
1b. How does Sir Patrick feel about the person who recommended him for the voyage? Why do you think the knight recommended Sir Patrick?
2b. What does this fear tell you about the sailor?
3b. Why will they be waiting a long, long time?
4b. Explain whether Sir Patrick made a wise choice to make the trip. What do you think motivated him to undertake the voyage?
5b. Give some examples of things that motivate people to take risks.
1a. What is the maid's lament in stanza 1?
2a. What does the Great Silkie reveal about himself in stanza 3?
3a. What predictions does the Great Silkie make in stanzas 6 and 7?
4a. Identify both positive and negative information about the interaction between the human and the supernatural world.
5a. In what way do circumstances affect the way in which you judge the gunner?
1b. Why is the maid troubled?
2b. How do you think the maid feels about learning the identity of her child's father?
3b. Contrast the predictions in stanza 6 with that in stanza 7.
4b. What does this ballad suggest about interactions between the human and the supernatural world?
5b. Do you think people should take circumstances into consideration when judging others? Explain.
Mood. These ballads have similar moods. Describe the mood and identify three details from each ballad that help create that mood.
Rhyme Scheme and Ballad. Use a chart to note the rhyme scheme of "The Great Silkie of Shule Skerrie." Write the last word of each line in the left column. Identify the rhyme of that line with a letter. The rhyme scheme of "Sir Patrick Spens" has been done for you.
1. Write a note to the king about your feelings about the death of Sir Patrick Spens. Or write a note to the Great Silkie regarding your feelings about the anticipated death of the child.
2. Write a tabloid report about the Great Silkie. Describe the creature. In your story tell about the child and how it was taken from the maid by the Great Silkie.
3. Write a eulogy for Sir Patrick Spens. A eulogy is a speech usually given at a funeral that describes the deceased. The eulogy might describe key characteristics, major accomplishments, and the person's effect on others.
The Parts of Speech. Identify the part of speech of each italicized word in the sentences below.
Many of the most popular of the [1] medieval ballads are ghost stories. "The Wife of Usher's Well," [2] for example, [3] tells the story of a mother whose three sons are killed, perhaps by [4] drowning at sea. The mother then wishes for her sons [5] to be resurrected. On the feast day of St. Martin, the sons [6] mysteriously appear at her door. [7] They feast with their mother that evening [8] and then [9] go to bed. However, they have to return to their [10] graves before the cock crows in the morning.
1. Medieval
2. for
3. tells
4. drowning
5. be
6. mysteriously
7. They
8. and
9. go
10. graves
Other Versions of Ballads. Research in books of songs or poetry or on the Internet to find other versions of "Sir Patrick Spens" and "The Great Silkie of Shule Skerrie." Compare and contrast the different versions you find.
Research Findings:
Sources Used:
Researching Shape Shifters. Brainstorm to develop a list of topics under which you might find information about shape shifters, such as Norway, Scandinavian folklore, folktales, etc. Then research these topics using the library or the Internet.
