Viking Ships at Sunrise

By Mary Pope Osborne

Grades 2-4; Genre - Historical Fiction with Fantastical Elements; GRL M; AR pts: 1.0

Travel with Jack and Annie to ancient Ireland.  They are given quite an adventure as they meet monks, escape Vikings and are saved by a sea serpent. 

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

1. Where did Morgan send Jack and Annie? Ancient Ireland   p. 3
2. Why was Jack worried about going there? The Vikings   p. 4
3. Why was this time period called the Dark Ages?  It was a difficult time   p. 8
4. What happens if Jack and Annie ask for help when they’re not in their darkest hour? Help won’t come   p. 9

Chapter 2

1. What were Jack and Annie wearing when they arrived in Ireland? Annie had a long heavy dress, belt, purse; Jack had a shirt, trousers, leather slippers, leather bag   p. 11
2. Who kept Western civilization alive during the Dark Ages? Monks   p. 12
3. What helped Jack and Annie climb up the steep stairs? A rope   p. 16

Chapter 3

1. Why did Brother Patrick drop the rope over the stairs? So he could climb down   p. 20
2. What did Jack and Annie show Brother Patrick? Their Master Librarian cards   . p.  21
3. What do the monks do when the Viking raiders come?  Hide   p. 23
4. Why? If they don’t they’ll be taken as slaves.    P. 23

Chapter 4

1. Name two types of buildings Jack and Annie saw as they followed Brother Patrick through their little village.  Bakery, sleeping quarters, place for spinning cloth, carving wooden tools and cobbling sandals   P. 26
2. Name two things the monks do in the library? Study, play chess, make books   p. 28
3. What was Brother Michael working on when Jack and Annie met him? Painting a book  p. 29

Chapter 5

1. Why couldn’t Jack and Annie take the story they came for? It wasn’t finished yet   p. 34
2. What did the flocks of gulls crying out sound like?  Warnings   p. 39
3. What did Jack see out at sea? Vikings/ ships   p. 39

Chapter 6

1. Who did Jack and Annie want to warn about the Vikings?   Monks   p. 40
2. What covered the island like a blanket? Fog   p. 42
3. Where were the monks going to hide? Cave   p. 43
4. Why did Brother Michael give the unfinished book to Jack and Annie? It’s better the world have some of the story than none at all   p. 44

Chapter 7

1. Where did Jack and Annie hide from the Vikings? On a Viking ship  p. 48
2. Why did Annie need the rope to get in the boat? Her dress was heavy, the water was deep p. 51
3. Where did the ship drift after Jack and Annie got in? out to sea   p. 52

Chapter 8

1. What did Jack and Annie put on that made them feel brave? Viking helmets     p. 58
2. What did they do to try and get the ship back to shore?  Row   p. 58
3. What made Jack and Annie feel like it was their darkest hour? Storm, lost the oars, thunder, lightning   p. 59

Chapter 9

1. What came from the special story to save them? Sea serpent   p. 60
2. How did it save them? Pushed their ship to shore  p. 61
3. When Jack and Annie got to shore, who saw them from the cliffs? Vikings p. 64

Chapter 10

1. Did Jack and Annie make it back to Frog Creek safely? Yes  p. 66
2. What is the story about that saved them? Irish tale about the serpent Sarph  p. 67
3. Where was Morgan sending Jack and Annie next time?  Ancient Greece   p. 69