Character & Setting
Who called the contest to decide who should be allowed to talk?
Hung Dia
In paragraph 17, what does the word "possess" mean?
have
What was the central problem the animals and the Mien argued about?
Who was the Greatest and therefore should have the ability to talk
From which point of view is the passage told?
Third-person narrator
Which group of living creatures made torches and lit a fire?
The Mien
In paragraph 26, what does "kindling" mean?
small pieces used to start fires
Which animal went first to show its ability, and what did it do?
Elephant; it stomped and flattened bamboo and banana trees
How would the passage be different if told in first person?
The reader would know the thoughts and feelings of only the narrator, not all characters
Name two animals that demonstrated abilities during the contest.
Elephant and Tiger — Bird and Fish also acceptable
In paragraph 8, the sentence says "the earth shook." What does that phrase mean in this context?
The ground trembled because Elephant was very heavy
How did Bird show strength?
Bird jumped on a treetop, making leaves flutter and branches snap
What is the theme of the passage?
"Helping others is the best power of all."
Where did the animals assemble for the contest?
On top of a hill
What does the phrase "burned red as sunset" suggest about the fire?
The fire was bright/red and vivid against the sky
Why did the ruler say that speed does not make the Greatest, using Fish as an example?
Because the Mien can catch fish in their nets and eat them
Which quotation from the passage best supports the theme that the Mien were chosen because they brought something useful to everyone?
"Turning to the Mien, he pronounced, 'Because you have made fire for everyone to use, you shall be known as Greatest and be allowed to talk.'" — paragraph 31
Based on the passage, describe how the setting (time of day) is used to show the Mien’s demonstration
It was evening; the fire burned red against the evening sky so everyone could see the flames clearly
In the context of the story, what does the word "blaze" most nearly mean?
a large, strong fire
What final decision did Hung Dia make about who would be allowed to speak, and what reason did he give?
Hung Dia declared the Mien Greatest and allowed them to talk because they made fire for everyone to use
Read paragraph 3: "Eventually the Mien and all the animals agreed that 'talk' should belong to only the Greatest living creature." Explain how this sentence helps develop the theme of the story.
It sets up the contest and shows that the group values a single greatest who can benefit others, leading to the decision based on usefulness—fire