9.

Fighting the Black Knight

Sword slithering like a shiny serpent out of his scabbard, Sir Gawain, blond locks floating like
silk in the breeze, cautiously eyed his massive opponent who was standing right in the centre of
the bridge. The Black Knight’s armour seemed to absorb the light, trapping it kicking and
screaming against its will and darkening the sky as he waited for Gawain to attack. His biceps
bulged as he whipped his sword through a complicated series of manoeuvres, cutting the air into
a thousand screaming pieces before he expertly picked his nose with the tip.
“So you dare to challenge me to a duel, do you, tiny knight?” he sneered, voice echoing
metallically from under his helmet.
“Um…er…I suppose so unless you would like to move off the bridge and let me pass by?”
responded Gawain hopefully, staring up at the towering figure.
The Black Knight looked down at the cold water flowing swiftly underneath the hump-backed
bridge then back at the diminutive figure of Gawain and chuckled grimly.
“I don’t think so, little knight. I have just got comfortable standing in this patch of sunlight so I
don’t feel like moving.”
“Are you sure? Is that your final answer?” asked Gawain, sighing heavily at the thought of
exerting himself so early in the morning even if he had had three Weetabix.
“Absolutely certain, old chap!” replied the Black Knight, idly chopping a fly in half with his
lethal weapon. “I’ve eaten bigger things than you for a mid-morning snack!”
“Then I suppose we will have to resort to violence to solve the situation despite my dear sainted
mother telling me that fighting never solved anything!” sighed Gawain sorrowfully.
“Indeed we will, little man!” answered the Black Knight, whistling annoyingly through his teeth
as he waited for his opponent to attack.
Retreating a few paces so that he could get a run up, Gawain made sure that all the buckles on
his armour were tight before he accelerated forwards like a racing car. Judging the moment
expertly, he launched himself into a headlong dive, zipping under the mighty slashing stroke of
his opponent then thudded into the knight’s kneecap. There was a dull clang of metal on metal
then a squeal of agony from the Black Knight who started hopping around like a demented
flamingo as Gawain slowly staggered back to his feet, tugged his helmet up so that he could see
out of the visor’s thin slot then murmured, “Just as well that my dear old mum told me to use my
head to solve problems!”
Pushing the Black Knight off the bridge and into the freezing water below, Gawain strolled off
down the winding path, whistling happily

Questions
1. What simile describes Gawain’s hair?
2. Why does the Black Knight’s voice echo?
3. Why doesn’t the Black Knight want to move?
4. What does the Black Knight do with his sword after cutting the air up?
5. Give two reasons why the Black Knight is so confident of victory.
6. Why do you think the Black Knight is called that?
7. What simile describes how the Black Knight hops around?
8. How exactly does Gawain defeat his enemy?
9. What pun/play on words does Gawain use about his victory?
10. Why does Gawain have to pull his helmet up?
11. What sort of character is the Black Knight? What evidence do you have for your opinion?
12. What sort of character is Gawain? What evidence do you have from the passage to support
your opinion?
Tudor Comprehensions
10. Rose Sinks!
Tragedy struck yesterday in the murky, grey waters of the Solent when the Mary Rose, the
flagship of the fleet, sank in inexplicable circumstances. Sailing out to smash the French fleet
lurking off Portsmouth into smithereens, the magnificent vessel suddenly heeled over sharply to
port as a gust of wind hit her. It appears that water then flooded in through the gun ports and
many sailors threw themselves overboard as the ship turned turtle, masts collapsing like felled
trees and sails covering the sailors like shrouds.
The huge crowd on the shore, which included His Majesty, King Henry VIII, all let out a gasp of
utter dismay as the Mary Rose slipped under the waves, dragging down many poor sailors with it
including the admiral, Sir George Carew.
Frantic and gallant rescue attempts came to naught and all but a handful of the crew drowned
while the villainous French fleet withdrew in perfect order and without a scratch.
“It was terrible, absolutely awful, mate! To think that if I hadn’t eaten a dodgy chicken pie last
night then I would have been on board!” wailed Jack Tarr, aged 27.
“Heads will roll! I am too upset to eat!” snapped King Henry, angrily chewing on yet another
fattening haunch of venison.
“It is obvious that those cowardly English sailors were terrified of fighting my ferocious
Frenchmen so they all ran to the other side of the ship and made it heel over then they deserted
their ships like rats!” commented Jacques Cousteau, the French admiral, tossing a snail shell over
his shoulder whilst lying through his pearl-white teeth.
“It’s such a tragedy to lose dear George. I haven’t felt so upset since I lost my favourite set of
false teeth. I suppose I will have to fill out all those ghastly forms now so that I can claim his life
insurance,” remarked Lady Carew, dabbing at her moistening eyes with a cambric handkerchief.
Such a tragedy though can only stiffen every Englishman’s resolve to thoroughly thrash the
French on their next encounter on land or at sea. Remember Agincourt!

Questions
1. What did the waters of the Solent look like?
2. How many French ships were damaged?
3. Which admiral died on the Mary Rose?
4. What does ‘turn turtle’ mean? Why do you think this phrase is used?
5. Why wasn’t Jack Tarr on board?
6. What simile describes how the masts collapsed?
7. What explanation does the French admiral give for the sinking of the ship?
8. Do you think Henry’s comment about food is true? What evidence is there?
9. How do you think Lady Carew feels about losing her husband?
10. Do you think the reporter is on the French or English side? Explain your answer fully using
evidence from the text!
11. What’s amusing about the headline?
12. Why should the English remember Agincourt?
13. What anachronism is in the text?
14. What typical features of a newspaper text are in this passage?
15. Why are the sails described as being like shrouds?
11. Shakespeare’s Diary
Thursday 15th March 1602
Another sleepless night last night. If only the arms of Morpheus would clutch me tightly but
instead I tossed and turned as I tried to think of an ending for my latest play, ‘Romeo and Juliet’.
Do I go for the happy ending and have the two young lovers strolling off into the sunset, kissing
and hugging, whilst an unseen orchestra plays melodically in the background? Or should I be
evil and have one of them dying? Or…tragedy heaped on tragedy…perhaps both should die?
Hmm, methinks that might be the way forward!
My beloved wife, Ann Hathaway, has also been nagging me…trying to hath her way! She wants
to move to a more salubrious area; one where the chamberpots don’t get emptied out of the
window each morning and there aren’t late night revellers to disturb the peace. She has a long list
of properties for us to see though she fancies a little place tucked away by the river. It’ll have
running water then, I suppose! Especially when the Thames floods! So now I have to contemplate
moving too. 2B or not 2B? That is the question! Should I put an offer in or wait until we have
viewed some other houses?
Dinner tonight was interesting…well that’s the kindest description I can think of! I am sure that
three old hags gathered round a cauldron somewhere were responsible for the mess of potage
that Ann produced. Hubble bubble toilet trouble would definitely have resulted but fortunately I
only had to eat a mouthful or two before a messenger saved me, proclaiming that I was needed at
the Globe Theatre immediately as Good Queen Bess had arrived to watch Macbeth in all its
glory…and gory bits!
Ran to the theatre and paid my respects to Elizabeth, trying not to notice the lines on her face and
the fact that she was wearing a ridiculous wig. Bowed so deeply that I put my back out, much to
her amusement and she laughed so much that her face paint cracked and her blackened teeth
threatened to fall out of her mouth! Eventually staggered back home after trying to loosen up my
back with a few pints of ale, hoping for a hot bath and a few sympathetic words from my wife.
Only got the cold shoulder treatment and hot words instead as Ann smelt the alcohol on my
breath. Writing this downstairs as I am sleeping on the couch again! Still it has given me some
inspiration for another play. I think I will call it ‘The Taming of the Shrew’!
Questions
1. What sort of area did Ann want to move to?
2. What three different endings had Shakespeare been thinking about for Romeo and Juliet?
3. What play has Elizabeth come to see?
4. What does Shakespeare do to ease the pain in his back?
5. What stopped him having toilet trouble?
6. What pun is made about his wife’s name?
7. What two reasons are there for Ann wanting to move?
8. Why doesn’t Shakespeare get any sympathy from his wife when he comes home with his bad
back?
9. Why does Shakespeare think the new house will have running water?
10. What do we know from the passage about what Elizabeth looked like?
11. What do you think 2B or not 2B refers to in the diary?
12. Why was Elizabeth so amused?
13. Which three of his plays are mentioned?
14. What does the opening sentence of the third paragraph imply?
15. How does Shakespeare get the inspiration for writing another play?
 12. Letter from Thomas Wolsey

From
my carriage,
In a muddy lane,
Somewhere in Bucks,
England.
28/11/1530

Dear Most Puissant and Esteemed Majesty,

I pray with all my heart that this letter finds you in perfect health and
deservedly enjoying the adoration of your humble subjects throughout the kingdom. I, your most
faithful servant, am absolutely astounded by the letter summoning me back to London to answer
charges of treason and the shock has affected my own weakening heart considerably. My gout is
a painful affliction as is my arthritis although the loss of your affection and regard is more
galling than any illness could be, especially as I am at a complete loss to understand why.
If it be the matter of failing to arrange a divorce for you from Katherine of
Aragon then I can only apologise for my failure once more and aver that no mere mortal could
have managed to perform such a miracle as the Pope, our earthly superior, was so heavily against
the idea from the start. A cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church is subject to the Pope and I
could not possibly go against his wishes without risking excommunication and therefore my
soul.
I am sure that in all other matters during your long and glorious reign, I have
served you wisely and well. Did I not obtain more and more money from the people through
many imaginative taxes so that your luxurious lifestyle could be funded? Have I not squeezed the
peasants until the pips squeaked? Did I not argue cogently for war against France just as you
wished? Have I not been at your side, cheering you on in your numerous jousting tournaments?
Was I not applauding your deft tennis shots and thus got struck in the eye by the ball?
Yet, despite all this hard work and sacrifice, I find myself outside the heart-
warming glow of your radiance. I am drifting along in the darkness of my carriage, bereft and
alone without your favour, Your Most Magnificent Majesty. All I ask is that you take pity on this
worn out husk and allow me to die in peace in my house at Hampton Court…the palace I have
left to you in my will.
Yours most humbly and hopefully,
Thomas Wolsey
(Archbishop of York and ex-Chancellor of England)
Questions
1. Why couldn’t Wolsey get Henry a divorce?
2. Where did the tennis ball hit Wolsey?
3. Which three ailments is Wolsey suffering from?
4. What is making Wolsey feel even worse than his illnesses are?
5. What two religious titles does Wolsey hold?
6. What is Wolsey’s final request?
7. Which sporting events has Wolsey supported the king at?
8. What job did Wolsey once hold?
9. Why did Wolsey have to raise taxes?
10.What examples of flattery can you find in the text?
11. How does Wolsey try and change the king’s mind?
12. Find the meaning of the following words:
a. galling
b. cogently
c. bereft
d. aver
e. excommunication

Creative Option
Write the return letter from Henry to Wolsey! What do you think Henry will reply to some of
Wolsey’s statements?
13. The Dragon
Wisps of sultry steam seethed out of the cavern’s mouth, drifting like fog and shrouding the
stunted trees. I took one tentative step forward, heart pounding like a drum and legs shivering as
if I had the flu. What lurked within that threatening darkness? I forced my reluctant toes to slither
forward another few inches, sliding like a slug towards the black maw then my throat went as dry
as dust as a tongue of flame licked out abruptly. Was the beast awakening? Was time running
out?
I steeled myself to move, breath rasping in my ears, sword sliding out of my scabbard as my
trembling fingers clasped the hilt. My steel-shod foot kicked a stone and it clattered over the
scorched earth, clinking and chinking lightly down the mountainside yet sounding like a clap of
thunder to me. Something stirred and the ground beneath my feet shook. Grey granite flakes
shattered off the rock and fluttered through the air like snowflakes, making the visibility even
worse and I waved my hands around, trying to clear my vision. Then I wished that I hadn’t!
Eyes like the moon stared at me; vast pools of silver water shimmering and shining in the
darkness and threatening to drag me down into their depths. My feet moved of their own
volition, sliding forward as the dragon’s massive jaws opened slowly. The pull of those hypnotic
eyes was almost magnetic, mesmerising me, and time stood still as I contemplated my end. The
sinuous tail flicked gently and coiled perfectly into a colossal circle while the immeasurable
wings looked like sails silhouetted against the glistening quartz wall of the cave.
Fire flickered, flaring red and lighting up the interior of the cave. I stood like a statue, heart
beating like a hummingbird’s wing, trying to take in the menacing magnificence of the vast
creature. The scales shimmered like a magpie’s wing, seeming to shift and shimmy whilst terrible
talons teased out towards me, deadly daggers aimed at my shivering figure. Every nerve in my
body screamed at me to run…
Questions
1. Why did the stone sound like a clap of thunder to the knight?
2. Why did the knight wave his hands around?
3. Why can’t he move when he sees the dragon?
4. What colour is the rock?
5. What did the steam do to the trees?
6. What metaphor describes the dragon’s eyes?
7. Why do the cave walls glisten?
8. Why is the knight’s heart pounding and his legs shaking?
9. What metaphor is used about the dragon’s talons?
10. What evidence have we got that the character is a knight?
11. What words are used for big?
12. Make a list of similes in the passage.
13. Find the meaning of the following words as they are used in the passage:

a. Volition
b. Mesmerising
c. Tentative
d. Maw
e. Sinuous
f. Contemplated
14. Find a verb, noun and adjective from the first sentence.
14. The Dragon Part Two
Every nerve in my body screamed at me to run…
I whirled round like a spinning top, fear flooding through my senses like a great tidal wave at the
thought of being roasted alive by the colossal creature. My foot slipped on a loose patch of
gravel, my sword slipped out of my slippery fingers then bounced off the granite rock and
evaded my desperate grab. The pommel struck the side of the cave and a vast tinkling sound
echoed abruptly through the cavern, noise rippling like a mountain stream. I froze, expecting to
be boiled alive any moment…
Nothing happened for a second or so then, to my everlasting surprise, there was a great crash as
if a thousand cymbals had been banged together at once. Spiky shards of glass flew everywhere,
clattering into my armour then bouncing like ping-pong balls off the polished steel. I ducked
down, cowering into a crouch as I tied to make myself as small a target as possible. My ears rang
with the resounding roar for a few seconds more and then there was an abrupt and oddly
disconcerting quiet. Slowly, I raised my head and looked round then blinked several times, eyes
widening in utter amazement as I saw what was there…
The tiny baby dragon looked back at me with eyes like saucers, trembling gently. Wings like a
butterfly’s stirred softly as it hissed in fear. I chuckled grimly, annoyed at myself for being
fooled by mere smoke and mirrors, then I took a step towards the frightened creature, wondering
just how much it would fetch on the open market. What sort of pet would it make? Now it was
just the size of a large rabbit but how big would it get? What size pooper scooper would be
needed?
I took another stride forwards and it growled like a terrier. A single wisp of steam slipped out of
its minuscule mouth and wafted up to the ceiling and I laughed as a tiny flame licked out for a
moment or two before dwindling away into nothingness.
“That’s not going to frighten me! That wouldn’t even have burnt my toast this morning!”
What could I make a lead out of? I was still pondering that when I felt the hairs on my neck
prickle…
Questions
1. What happened to the flame?
2. Why were my fingers slippery?
3. What do I intend to do with the baby dragon?
4. What part of my sword hit the cave wall?
5. How big was the baby dragon?
6. Why did I slip over?
7. What had fooled me?
8. What simile describes the great crash?
9. Why did I laugh?
10. Write down two examples of alliteration.
11. Why did I try and make myself as small as possible?
12. Why do you think the hairs on my neck prickle?
13. List all the verbs in the final sentence.
Creative Writing Option:
What do you think happens next? Write the next part of the story but remember to write it in the
first person…I!
15. The Dragon Part Three
I stared into the silver, saucer-like eyes of the baby dragon as the tiny hairs on the back of my
neck prickled. A sinuous, shifting shape was clearly reflected there and I reacted instantly,
striding forward and picking up the dragon cub in one hand. Twirling round like a ballet dancer,
I held the tiny creature up in front of me protectively like a living shield then relaxed as I stared
into eyes like sapphires; ocean-blue pools of limpid love!
“You must be the princess!” I exclaimed, tongue feeling as thick as a plank of wood as I gazed at
the beautiful vision in front of me.
“Indeed I am, knight. Now, put the dragon down and step away from it!” the girl replied, thin
lips drawing back slightly to reveal teeth like daggers. I hesitated, brow furrowing then I asked
politely, “Why? I thought I might keep it as a pet!”
“A pet? It’s a dragon, you imbecile! It’s going to grow up and then live on a steady diet of
princesses. Put it down and let me kill it!” she snapped, eyes blazing furiously as a large pistol
materialised in her hand, slithering down the capacious sleeve of her ball gown. The black
cavern of the muzzle looked like a tunnel as it pointed unwaveringly at me and I swallowed hard.
What could I do to save the baby? It looked up at me and a crystal sphere of sorrow rolled slowly
out of one eye and dribbled down towards its mouth before being evaporated by a tiny flicker of
flame.
“Ten seconds, knight, or both you and that loathsome creature are going to have a hole in you!”
she hissed, tongue flickering out of her soft, pink lips like a snake’s.
“Hold on, princess! Surely, you want to keep that princess reputation for being pretty, loving
pink and swooning gracefully when you see a hunky knight like me?”
“In your dreams, mate! I am a new woman! I want a career and I have just thought up an
excellent business opportunity! Self-roasting dinners…think of the saving on gas!”
“There’s not much meat on it!” I observed, feeling the tiny dragon shiver against my armoured
chest.
“Then it’ll be wonderful for all those dieters out there, won’t it? Now, hand it over or face the
consequences!”
A whimper of fear slithered out of the dragon’s mouth and I sighed. How could I live with
myself if I passed it over to the princess? On the other hand, how could I live if I didn’t? The
pistol was pointed at my face, the eyes behind it as hard as diamonds and the slim fingers,
bedecked with rings, holding it as steady as a rock.
“Decision time, knight. Give me the dragon or it’s night, night for you!” sneered the princess. I
gulped, fear flickering through me like fire, and looked up to the sky for salvation…and there it
was!
Questions
1. What do you think the knight thought was behind him at the beginning and why?
2. Why does the knight think that roasting the dragon isn’t a great idea?
3. Why does the princess want to kill the dragon?
4. What colour eyes has the princess got?
5. What does the princess want to do with her life?
6. Why is a dragon roast dinner going to be good for dieters?
7. Where was the pistol hidden?
8. What is the crystal sphere of sorrow?
9. Why will having dragon for dinner save money?
10. What evidence have we got for the character of the princess?
11. What simile is used about the pistol’s muzzle?
12. What pun does the princess make in her last speech?
13. How does the knight try and persuade the princess that she shouldn’t kill the dragon?
14. Find the meaning of the following words as they are used in the
passage:
a. limpid
b. capacious
c. materialised