Questions for Swan Lake

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Listen to the extract from our story Swan Lake. It is just under four minutes long. You can also read along with the text, and answer the questions at the end. The passage is about Prince Siegfried.

Extract

That evening, he was greeted by mouths that were toothy and grinning, others that were delicate and demure, and still others that were luscious and red. He could choose from eyes that were feline green, chocolate brown, sky blue, or owl grey. There certainly was no shortage of princesses in all shapes sizes and complexions. But the whole situation seemed to him quite unbearable. Even a prince cannot be pressured into falling in love right on cue. As darkness fell, he slipped away from the crowd and retrieved his horse. By the time his birthday fireworks were lighting up the sky, he had reached the edge of the forrest.

Very little light from the stars of the moon came through the canopy of trees, but he and his horse knew the track well. They trod carefully, but he may have taken a different turning from usual, because he soon came across an unfamiliar clearing in the forrest, which, as he soon found, opened up onto a lake. The prince sat down on a tree stump not far from the water’s edge and listened to the gentle lapping of the waves. His thumb stroked the silver handle of his crossbow. When a group of swans came gliding across the moonlit water, he recalled that swans are said to mate for life. That, he thought, is because their love is natural and sincere. No-one tells a swan when he or she is supposed to marry.

One of the swans rose out of the water onto the bank, where she stretched her long neck and flapped her wings. Prince Siegfried raised his crossbow and took aim. His finger felt the trigger, but although hunting was one of the keenest pleasures of his gilded life, he could not bring himself to shoot a creature so peaceful and beautiful. He lowered the weapon and put it on the mossy ground beside him. As he did so, his eyes grew a little misty.

“Dash it. Not tears,” he thought. His finger wiped away a salty drop from the corner of his eye. Now, he saw that that a star was shining directly onto the swan. But she was no longer quite a swan. Her feathers were fading, and she was undergoing some sort of magical moonlit transformation. He stood up and walked towards the remarkable vision. By the time he reached the spot where she stood, she was more woman than a swan, and then she fell gently backwards into his arms.

Comprehension Questions

1) What celebration is taking place on the day that the passage describes?

2) Why is Prince Siegfried upset at the start of the passage?

3) What does Prince Siegfried admire about the swans?

4) Describe the emotions of Prince Siegfried when he sees the swans.

5) What do you understand by the phrase, "magical, moonlit transformation"?

Vocabulary and Grammar

1) “That evening, he was greeted by mouths that were toothy and grinning, others that were delicate and demure, and still others that were luscious and red.”

What is another word for “demure”?

a) fine
b) modest
c) beautiful
d) soft

2) “Even a prince cannot be pressured X falling in love right on cue.”

What is the missing word?

a) into
b) for
c) toward
d) with

3)”When a group of swans came gliding across the moonlit water, he recalled that swans are said to X for life.”

What is the missing word? (hint: the most correct word for animals and birds)

a) marry
b) mate
c) befriend
d) engage

4) “Although hunting was one of the keenest pleasures of his gilded life, he X not bring himself to shoot a creature so peaceful and beautiful.”

What is the missing word?

a) can
b) could
c) will
d) does

5)”Her feathers were fading, and she was X some sort of magical moonlit transformation.”

What is the missing word?

a) going
b) undergoing
c) over-going
d) through-going

Assignments

Do you think people should marry for love only? Or do you think they should consider other things, such as the opinion of parents, age, social background, religion, and money. Write a short essay and try to consider both sides of the argument.

Describe a ballerina dancing like a swan. Describe her costume, the stage scene, the movement of her arms and feet, and the music. If you need inspiration search for a video of "Swan Lake" on a site like YouTube, or listen to the song that goes with this passage.