Plot
Rikki-Tikki-Tavi
Three Skeleton Key
Monsters Are Due on Maple Street!
Vocabulary
100
This is the first part of the plot that tell's you about the story's characters and what they want.
Basic Situation
100
How does Rikki-Tikki end up living with Teddy and his parents?
A flood washed him out of his burrow
100
Why is it unusual for the lighthouse keepers to see a ship in their waters?
The waters are treacherous (or dangerous)
100
When Tommy tells Mr. Brand not to go downtown, he says, "They don't want you to." To whom is he referring?
Aliens from outer space.
100
understand
fathom
200
It means to hint at, or give us clues about, a future event.
Foreshadow
200
Why does Nag hide in the bathroom?
To kill Teddy's dad in the morning
200
How do the rats first get in the lighthouse?
The metal sheeting that was sealing the window gives way.
200
What about him makes the neighbors turn against Les Goodman?
He is an oddball. He looks up at the stars at night. He didn't come out to see the flash of light.
200
brave and determined
valiant
300
This is a struggle between opposing characters or forces.
Conflict
300
What causes war (or the main conflict) in the story?
The cobras want control of the garden and need to kill Rikki and the family.
300
Why do the officers and crew of the first patrol boat look at the lighthouse with a horrified expression?
The light is completely covered by a seething mass of rats.
300
Why does Charlie shoot Pete Van Horn?
He sees something approaching and shoots thinking it was an alien.
300
frightened with threats
intimidated
400
When these occur, the characters face new problems because these make it very hard for the character to get what he or she wants.
Complications
400
Why is it unwise for a mongoose to follow a cobra in a hole?
The hole might open up, or widen, allowing the cobra to turn and strike.
400
Why does the narrator take the job at Three Skeleton Key?
He wants to set aside some money before he gets married.
400
Who is the real monster?
suspicion, or fear, and prejudice.
400
boldly resisting authority
defiant
500
This is a series of related events
Plot
500
Why do the garden creatures rejoice at the end of the story?
Rikki-tikki kills the cobras and the garden is saved!
500
What becomes of the three lighthouse attendants?
Le Gleo goes insane; Itchoua dies; the narrator returns to the key.
500
Why did the writer make the events occur on Maple Street, U.S.A.?
The setting suggests that the events could happen anywhere.
500
peculiarity or unique quality
idiosyncrasy
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