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Copywork
About This Passage
The most fierce-looking man on the ship turns out to be the one who protects Augustus. Copying this sentence teaches the comma that joins two ideas and shows how a writer can surprise us by making a frightening figure act with kindness.
Dirk Peters treated him with some degree of kindness, and on one occasion saved him from the brutality of the cook.
Full copywork activity with handwriting lines available in the complete study guide.
Discussion Questions
Narration Prompt
Tell what happens in this chapter in order: how the crew of the Grampus turns against Captain Barnard, how the captain is set adrift in a small boat, how the fierce sailor Dirk Peters keeps Augustus safe, and how Augustus tries but fails to reach his hidden friend. Slow down at the part you find most surprising and tell what you think about it.
Discussion Questions
- On the ship Grampus, the crew turns against Captain Barnard and takes over the brig. Why do you think the mutineers refuse to listen when Captain Barnard begs them not to set him adrift? What part of the chapter helps you decide?
- Dirk Peters looks so fierce that his face seems to wear 'the merriment of a demon,' but he keeps helping Augustus. Why do you think the writer shows Dirk Peters this way? What part of the story helps you decide?
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Vocabulary Builder
Item 1
An evil spirit, or a wicked, cruel being.
Item 2
A wicked person who harms others.
Item 3
When a ship's crew rises up against their captain.
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Critical Thinking
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