Art of Language 01.2 Opening Day

CLOSING CEREMONIES … OPENING DAY

Read the passage below. It’s the first few paragraphs of a book.

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A man in the garb of a slave went up the side of that mountain that is all covered with forest, the Mountain Pelion. He carried in his arms a little child.

When it was full noon the slave came into a clearing of the forest so silent that it seemed empty of all life. He laid the child down on the soft moss, and then, trembling with the fear of what might come before him, he raised a horn to his lips and blew three blasts upon it.

The he waited. The blue sky was above him, the great trees stood away from him, and the little child lay at his feet. He waited, and then he heard the thud-thud of great hooves. And then from between the trees he saw coming toward him the strangest of all beings, one who was half man and half horse; this was Chiron the centaur.

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Please answer these questions in your journal. (Remember: Care. Effort. Heart.)

What’s the three word summary of this passage?

According to the author of this excerpt, what is important for you to know?

What details are especially helpful?

What do you expect the author to explain next?

Is this passage written in a way that makes you want to continue reading? How, or why not?