Category Archives: Lloyd Alexander

Comprehension Questions – The Chronicles of Prydain #3 The Castle of Llyr

The Castle of Llyr

by Lloyd Alexander

Grades 4-8; Genre - Fantasy; GRL W; AR pts. 7.0

When Eilonwy is put under a deep spell, Taran and his companions set out on a dangerous quest to rescue her. Yet how can a lowly Assistant Pig-Keeper hope to stand against the most evil enchantress in all of Prydain?

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. Describe Prince Rhun. Clumsy, kind, son of the king and queen Eilonwy is going to live with, blond hair, blue eyes, happy and carefree, naive p.1
  2. Why is Taran jealous of him? Eilonwy thinks he’s polite; he’s a prince and Taran is an assistant pig-keeper p.18

Chapter 2

  1. Why is Lord Gwydion pretending to be a cobbler in the palace? He’s undercover to protect Eilonwy and Taran p.29

Chapter 3

  1. How could Taran have communicated with Eilonwy better in this chapter? How? Listen to your child’s answer p.40

Chapter 4

  1. Summarize this chapter. After the feast, Gurgi guards Eilonwy’s chamber and Taran leaves the castle to follow Magg to the harbor; Magg lights a torch and signals to a ship that’s holding Achren; Gwydion saves Taran from being spotted by Magg; Taran guards Eilonwy’s door; at breakfast, Taran couldn’t find Magg or Eilonwy p.42

Chapter 5

  1. Summarize what the King asks of Taran and why it is conflicting for Taran? To protect Prince Rhun; the prince is betrothed to Eilonwy; Taran loves Eilonwy p.59

Chapter 6

  1. Summarize this chapter. Taran finds the prince slept in a small, abandoned hut; they learn that a very small person practiced growth spells on a small mountain lion; something large attacks Taran p.68

Chapter 7

  1. Describe Llyan. A mountain lion as large as a horse, sleek and muscular, strong and deadly p.79
  2. Predict how the companions will escape Llyan? Listen to your child’s answer

Chapter 8

  1. Was your prediction correct? Listen to your child’s answer
  2. How did the companions escape? Llyan fell asleep p.90

Chapter 9

  1. Summarize how the companions were able to finish the raft? Kaw distracted Llyan p.97

Chapter 10

  1. Who did the companions find in this chapter? How? Glew; they fell into a pit and became trapped; they tied to find a way to the surface p.111

Chapter 11

  1. Describe Glew. The little man from the hut that turned himself to a giant; selfish and sought fame instead of accepting who he was; trapped in the caverns; he was small when he came into the caverns but drank a portion and grew; he’s too large now to escape; trapped the companions and wants their help p.112

Chapter 12

  1. Explain what helped Taran change his mind about Prince Rhun. The prince offered his life to save the rest of them p.132
  2. How did this change Taran’s mind? It was very noble of Print Rhun to sacrifice himself for them.

Chapter 13

  1. Summarize this chapter. Prince Rhun climbed up the companion’s manmade ladder and escaped with the bauble; Glew opened the cavern, and the other three companions fought him; the prince came back and shined the bauble, defeating Glew p.134

Chapter 14

  1. What is the greatest secret Fflewder spoke of on page 151? The secret to thinking about others and not yourself.

Chapter 15 

  1. Why will it be difficult to free Eilonwy? She doesn’t recognize Taran and won’t want to go with him p.165

Chapter 16

  1. Explain how is Achren clever with the way she has imprisoned Eilonwy. Achren has cast an enchantment on Eilonwy to give her allegiance and forget who her friends are p.169

Chapter 17

  1. Choose a word to describe Gurgi in this chapter and explain why you chose that word. Humble; he forgave Eilonwy for hurting him p.178

Chapter 18

  1. Explain the effect the bauble has on Eilonwy. It brings back the memory of who she really is p.187

Chapter 19

  1. Why didn’t Gwydion want to kill Achren? She lost her power and is not a threat anymore; he didn’t want to kill just to get vengeance, he is merciful and kind p.197

Chapter 20

  1. Summarize the conclusion to this story. Eilonwy wakes up and remembers everyone and what happened to her; Taran knows he must say good-bye and go back to Caer Dallben; Eilonwy said she won’t marry Prince Rhun p.199

Comprehension Questions – The Chronicles of Prydain #2 The Black Cauldron

The Black Cauldron

by Lloyd Alexander

Grades 4-8; Genre - Fantasy; 760L; AR pts. 7.0

In Prydain, a young Assistant Pig-Keeper achieves honor in a quest to destroy the evil Black Cauldron.

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. Summarize this introduction. Taran is reunited with his friends; a council is held in Caer Dallben; Prince Gwydion shares what is happening; Arawn is killing innocent people to put in the Black Cauldron to raise them from the dead and become His servants; Gwydion‘s plan is to destroy the cauldron p.1

Chapter 2

  1. Describe Ellidyr. Prince from the Northern Lands who is the youngest of his brothers without much inheritance; arrogant; only has his name and sword; prideful; disdainful towards Taran and calls him a pig-boy p.21

Chapter 3

  1. Describe Adaon. He has knowledge and experience in many areas; trustworthy; humble; kind; has dreams during the night that are symbolic and can tell the future p.42

Chapter 4

  1. Why is it a problem the cauldron has been taken? It could have been placed into different evil hands p.52

Chapter 5

  1. Why didn’t Taran and his group want to kill the huntsman? If one dies, the rest get stronger p.58

Chapter 6

  1. Describe Wystyl. Of the Fair Folk; guard at the way station; sickly; tall for a dwarf and thin with droopy facial features; wrinkled forehead; ragged clothing; not wanting to help the band p.64

Chapter 7

  1. Do you agree with Taran’s decision at the end of this chapter? Why or why not? Explain. Listen to your child’s answer

Chapter 8

  1. Why did Adaon ask Taran to be the charger of his horse, herbs and brooch if something happened to him? He knew he was going to die p.93

Chapter 9

  1. What gave Adaon his gift of knowledge and foresight? The brooch from his fiancé; it is magical p.105

Chapter 10

  1. Describe what the companions found when they arrived at the cottage. It was empty; broken pieces of crockery; rusted weapons; heaped up and disorderly p.118
  2. Predict who is talking to the companions at the end of the chapter. Listen to your child’s answer

Chapter 11

  1. Was your prediction correct? Explain. Listen to your child’s answer
  2. What is one word you would use to describe the three women in this chapter? Witches; magical; etc. p.120

Chapter 12

  1. Summarize this chapter. The women know Dallben and have the black cauldron; they won’t give it to the companions p.129

Chapter 13

  1. Summarize how the companions found the cauldron. Gurgi went into the hen house to get straw to sleep in for the night and found it under the straw p.144

Chapter 14

  1. Predict how the companions get the cauldron. Listen to your child’s answer 

Chapter 15

  1. What does the word “sacrifice” mean? a loss or something you give up, usually for the sake of a better cause.
  2. Why were Taran’s friends willing to sacrifice their most precious items? So, he wouldn’t have to give up the brooch p.162

Chapter 16

  1. Describe how Taran is feeling trying to get the cauldron to Caer Dallben. Frustrated, tired, hopeless p.173

Chapter 17

  1. Explain why Ellidyr attacked Taran? He sees Taran as a threat and doesn’t believe he’ll keep his word p.193

Chapter 18

  1. Summarize this chapter. King Morgant finds Taran and his companions and takes them to his camp; they find Ellidyr tied and beat up; Morgant binds the companions; they are now his prisoners p.195

Chapter 19

  1. Describe King Morgant. Evil; pretended to heed Gwydion’s command to get the cauldron for his own doing p.207
  2. Summarize Taran and Ellidyr’s conversation at the end of this chapter. Ellidyr realizes the black beast over him and admits it to Taran; he apologizes and explains he wouldn’t have used the cauldron for evil; Taran believes him p.216

Chapter 20

  1. Summarize the conclusion to this story. Doli is invisible and unties the companions; Ellidyr runs to the cauldron and jumps in, sacrificing himself to destroy it; King Smoit rides in and kills the king; Gwydion also arrives; King Morgant, Ellidyr and King Smoit’s men are all buried and honored; Taran and his companions return to Caer Dallben p.217

Comprehension Questions – The Chronicles of Prydain #1 The Book of Three

The Book of Three

by Lloyd Alexander

Grades 5-8; Genre - Fantasy; GRL U; AR pts. 7.0

This the first of five in a series about Taran the Assistant Pig-Keeper and his lively companions as they seek to save Prydain from evil.

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. Summarize the introduction to this story. Taran is a young man and pig keeper; he wants to learn to sword fight but is told it isn’t time yet; his mentor and protector, Dallben, told him about the Horned King, an evil man who has risen to power; bees came through the farm and spooked the animals; the oracular pig escaped and Taran went after her, even though he was told not to go into the forest p.11

Chapter 2

  1. Describe Taran. Assistant pig-keeper; young man who is anxious to experience the world; wants to learn to sword fight but isn’t allowed; persistent; loyal p.24

Chapter 3

  1. Describe Gurgi. A hairy humanoid creature that can talk p.37

Chapter 4

  1. Summarize this chapter. Gurgi shows Taran and Gwydion where the Horned King is, and they learn his plans; Hen Wen isn’t to be found; they were attacked p.43

Chapter 5

  1. Describe Achren. A queen who has sided with Arawn; she’s evil but pretends to be nice to get what she wants; beautiful, pale and strong p.54

Chapter 6

  1. Describe Eilonwy. A girl two years younger than Taran and as tall as him; reddish gold hair to her waist; has a delicate and elfin face with high cheekbones; descends from the Sea King; is Achren’s niece; will help Taran to get back at her aunt for whipping her p.65

Chapter 7

  1. Summarize this chapter. Eilonwy came back to free Taran and started to lead him outside to meet Gwydion, but he fell into a chamber; Eilonwy joined him and will hopefully lead him out of the castle p.74

Chapter 8

  1. Describe the room Taran and Eilonwy found. A burial ground and treasury for the past king; it held jewels, weapons and bodies laid there from long ago p.87

Chapter 9

  1. Predict what Taran will do? Go after Hen Wen or warn the Sons of Don? Explain. Listen to your child’s answer

Chapter 10

  1. Why do the harp strings break? Fflewddur lies p.109

Chapter 11

  1. What helped Taran’s attitude toward Gurgi? Gurgi tried to give back his portion of food p.122

Chapter 12

  1. Summarize this chapter. The companions were forced to revise the path they took to Caer Dathyl; Gurgi was hurt; Melygnar found his way through the pass; wolves were following them to get to Gurgi; they were above the horse and Gurgi and sprang at the end of this chapter p.124

Chapter 13

  1. Describe Medwyn. An old man who lives in a valley hidden from the world; animals are kind to each other in the valley; he’s possibly the man who built a boat during a flood and saved two of each animal p.136

Chapter 14

  1. Summarize this chapter and predict what will happen to Taran and his companions. The companions set out following Medwyn’s instructions, they decide to go down to the valet instead of go along the cliffs, they get sucked into the lake; listen to your child’s answer p.147

Chapter 15

  1. Describe King Eiddileg. Dwarven King; yellow beard; plump; wore a red and green robe and rings on his fingers; impatient; frustrated with Taran and his companions for coming to their land; doesn’t want to let them go; magical p.162

Chapter 16

  1. Describe Doli; dwarf who was asked to be their guide; grumpy; feels inadequate because he can’t turn invisible; very good guide; red eyes p.175

Chapter 17

  1. Why is Taran upset at the end of this chapter? Hen Wen is gone, and the companions are being hunted by Gwyn the Hunter p.192

Chapter 18

  1. How is Fllewder courageous in this chapter? He puts Taran and Eilonwy on the horse to send them to Caer Dathyl as he stands to fight p.198

Chapter 19

  1. Summarize the reunion between Taran and Gwydion. They thought each other was dead, but they learned what happened to each other; Taran wept when he saw him p.207

Chapter 20

  1. Name one way Taran developed as a character in this book. He shows humility and takes responsibility; he realizes his mistakes.