The Glass Knight: an English story By Angela McAllister, The Quarto Group on 10.01.19 Word Count 603 Level MAX

Illustration by: Christopher Corr/The Quarto Group

A farmer and his son were passing a wood on their way to market one morning when they noticed many trees were dead.

The farmer was puzzled. "Those trees were fine yesterday," he said, so he stopped his cart and climbed down to look. The son followed. Inside the wood there was an eerie silence, every bush and tree was shriveled and black.

"There's something dark and dangerous here, Son," whispered the farmer. As he spoke, they saw a flash of yellow and glimpsed the back of a winged creature, with cockerel's feet and a serpent's tail.

"Run, Father!" cried the son, but his father was fixed to the spot. The creature spun round and gazed at him with blood-red eyes and in an instant, the farmer dropped down dead.

The farmer's son ran home to the village, so terrified he could hardly speak. When the villagers heard what had happened, the bravest men set off at once after the beast.

But by nightfall, they had not returned. Everyone gathered in church to decide what to do.

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. "What monster can strike living things dead with its eyes?" they asked. Nobody had ever heard of such a beast. Then the wise woman of the village spoke.

"I fear it is a Basilisk," she said darkly," a creature with the head and claws of a cockerel, the tail of a serpent and the wings of a bat. Its breath can break stone and its touch is poison, but most terrifying are its blood-red eyes that kill anything at a glance."

The villagers listened in stunned silence. "Is there nothing we can do?" they asked, but the wise woman shook her head. The villagers hurried home, locked their doors and closed their shutters. Nobody slept a wink.

The next day, a wandering knight rode into the village and stopped at the inn to rest. When he heard about the Basilisk he felt sorry for the frightened villagers. "I've faced many dangers," he said. "I promise I shall rid you of this terrible beast." So the innkeeper sent him to talk to the wise woman.

The knight listened to all the wise woman told him. "Does the Basilisk ever shut its eyes?" he asked. "Only to drink," she said, "but his ears are so keen you will never catch him unawares!"

That evening, the knight sat thinking in his room at the inn. He realized that his bravery alone would not be enough to defeat the beast. How could he keep his vow and save the village? Glancing up, he caught sight of his worried face in the mirror above the fireplace. Suddenly, he understood why the Basilisk shut its eyes to drink and it gave him an idea.

Early the next morning the knight rode away.

"Who can blame him," the innkeeper sighed, and the villagers sadly agreed. But two days later there was a great commotion as the knight returned in sparkling armor, covered with scales of crystal glass. Even his visor was a shining mirror. Everyone cheered as he walked through the village and on into the wood.

Deep in its lair, the Basilisk heard the knight approach. It uncurled its tail, stretched its claws and strutted out to meet its prey. Then the glass knight stepped forward. The Basilisk raised its blood-red eyes – and saw a thousand reflections of itself! With a shriek of horror it turned away, but too late – its wings began to shrivel and its skin turned black. With an angry thrash of its tail, the Basilisk fell dead to the ground.

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. Quiz

1 Read the following sentence from the second paragraph...

Inside the wood there was an eerie silence, every bush and tree was shriveled and black.

Which sentence from the story helps to explain what “eerie” means?

(A) A farmer and his son were passing a wood on their way to market one morning when they noticed many trees were dead.

(B) "There's something dark and dangerous here, Son," whispered the farmer.

(C) When the villagers heard what had happened, the bravest men set off at once after the beast.

(D) But by nightfall, they had not returned.

2 Read the selection below from the scene in which the wise woman speaks.

"I fear it is a Basilisk," she said darkly, "a creature with the head and claws of a cockerel, the tail of a serpent and the wings of a bat. Its breath can break stone and its touch is poison, but most terrifying are its blood-red eyes that kill anything at a glance."

What is the definition of “darkly” as it is used in the selection?

(A) in a sad way

(B) in a sneaky way

(C) in a scary way

(D) in a confused way

3 The knight in the story investigates when he needs to solve a problem.

Which selection from the story supports this conclusion?

(A) When he heard about the Basilisk he felt sorry for the frightened villagers.

(B) The knight listened to all the wise woman told him. "Does the Basilisk ever shut its eyes?" he asked.

(C) He realized that his bravery alone would not be enough to defeat the beast.

(D) But two days later there was a great commotion as the knight returned in sparkling armor, covered with scales of crystal glass.

4 Read the following selection from the story.

Glancing up, he caught sight of his worried face in the mirror above the fireplace. Suddenly, he understood why the Basilisk shut its eyes to drink and it gave him an idea.

Which of the following is an accurate explanation of what happens in this paragraph?

(A) The knight understands why the Basilisk never sleeps.

(B) The knight feels ashamed that he cannot defeat the Basilisk.

(C) The knight realizes that the Basilisk is afraid of the villagers.

(D) The knight realizes that he must make the Basilisk look at its own reflection.

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com.