Contents Section 1 1. The Prodigal Son Parable; Roots... 1 2. The King and the Shirt Moral... 5 3. The Tale of Bramble the King Fable... 9 4. Poetry: A Prodigal Son Alliteration... 13 5. Quiz 1; Extra Activity... 16 Section 2 6. Crossing the Ice Point of View... 17 7. Jack s Foolishness... 21 8. The Road to Canada... 25 9. Poetry: Slaves; Be Like the Bird... 29 10. Quiz 2; Extra Activity... 32 Section 3 11. Elias... 33 12. Elias, continued........................................... 37 13. Always Ungry... 40 14. Poetry: Beautiful Things... 44 15. Self Check... 47 16. LightUnit Test... 50 Root Chart... 51 Literary Terms... 52 Glossary... 54
3. The Tale of Bramble the King The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish doeth not so. Proverbs 15:7 Vocabulary forsake promote reign A Write each vocabulary word beside its definition. 1. to rule over 2. to move to a more important or higher position 3. to turn away from completely Introducing the Story The Tale of Bramble the King comes from Judges 9. Some of the words used in the story show the different style of vocabulary used in the King James Version of the Bible. This translation of the Bible was made in the 1600s. The KJV Bible uses some uncommon words. For example, words like forsake and ye are still used today, but they are not as common as they were in the early 1600s. The KJV Bible uses some words with British spellings. For example, the word neighbour spelled with a u is a British spelling. In the United States, this word is spelled neighbor. The King James Version of the Bible has many British spellings because it was translated in England. The KJV Bible uses some words that are no longer used. For example, if you look up wherewith, you will find it labeled archaic. This means that the word was used long ago but is no longer used today. B Write the letter of the description that matches each word. 4. honour a. word meaning you that is no longer used 5. thou b. uncommon word but used occasionally 6. anoint c. British spelling for honor Read The Tale of Bramble the King (pages 66, 67). After you read it, initial the line. 9
Understanding the Content Fiction: Fable Although fiction is often written for entertainment, it can also inform or teach. One type of fiction used to teach truth is a fable. A fable is a short tale that teaches a moral. Sometimes the moral is written as a short rule at the end of the fable. Fables often include fanciful details, such as animals or plants that talk. C Write the definition of the term. 7. fable Parables 1. Use realistic events and examples from daily life 2. Short; create clear mental images 3. Make comparisons 4. Teach one main lesson or truth 5. Cause people to think or be inspired Fables 1. Use fanciful details, such as talking animals or plants 2. Short; create clear mental images 3. Make comparisons 4. Teach one main lesson or truth (moral) 5. Cause people to think or be inspired D Study the chart above and notice the main difference between fables and parables. Write parable, fable, or both to match each characteristic. 8. uses fanciful details; animals or plants talk 9. uses realistic events and examples from daily life 10. a simple story that teaches one main lesson E Complete each exercise and write the answer to each question to understand the meaning of The Tale of Bramble the King. 11. What is something fanciful or unnatural that happens in The Tale of Bramble the King? 12. Describe a scene the fable creates in your mind. 10
13. Circle the letter of the comparison made in this fable. a. Abimelech is like a fig tree that gives tasty fruit. b. Abimelech is like a grapevine that provides good wine. c. Abimelech is like a wild bramble that easily catches fire. 14. Circle the letter of the sentence that states a moral this fable teaches. a. God has given us many helpful trees. b. A person who has poor character will not make a good ruler. c. The people of Shechem should be careful to prevent forest fires. 15. What did Jotham probably want the people to think about after hearing his story? F Circle the letter of the set of words that best completes each analogy. 16. olive : tree :: 17. Gideon : father :: a. fig : sweetness a. bramble : king b. grape : vine b. Gerizim : mountain c. bramble : thorn c. city : Shechem d. king : prince d. Jotham : brother G Complete the sentence to identify the relationship used in Number 17. 18. was Abimelech s, and was Abimelech s. Appreciating the Language H Write the letter of each figure of speech beside its example. a. metaphor b. personification c. simile 19. The people of Israel were like trees. 20. The trees said to the fig tree, Come thou, and reign over us. 21. Abimelech, whom the people had made king, was a thornbush. 11
Learning From the Story I Write the answer to each question. 22. The trees in the story were discontent. What did they want? 23. Was the trees choice of the bramble as king a wise or a foolish one? 24. Can discontentment also cause people to make foolish choices? Thinking Skills When making decisions, it is important to use good thinking and reasoning. The story of Abimelech becoming king of Shechem shows poor reasoning and choices. Abimelech s father Gideon had many wives and many sons. Abimelech s mother was from Shechem and had relatives there. Abimelech convinced these relatives to help him become ruler. He used poor reasoning when he spoke to them. J Write the letter of a good response the people could have made to each reason Abimelech gave for being made king. a. God Himself rules over us as our king. b. You are a relative, but that doesn t mean you would make a good king. c. Your father said neither he nor his sons would rule. 25. Israel needs a king. (Abimelech did not actually say this, but his words suggest it.) 26. Life will be better with one ruler rather than seventy sons trying to rule. 27. Since I am related to you, you should help me become king. Looking Back K Write the vocabulary word compassion or famine to complete each sentence. Write A if the word you wrote is an antonym of the italicized word or S if it is a synonym. 28. The chief felt (hatred) for the lost missionaries who stumbled into his camp. 29. People in many war-torn countries suffer from (starvation). 30. Jesus felt (sympathy) for the people, because they seemed like lost sheep. 31. When there is little rain, a year of (plenty) may follow. 12