The Flying Trunk

Question

Once upon a time, many years ago in Copenhagen, Denmark, a wealthy merchant had a son called Erik. Erik was a good-looking lad, intelligent, but very lazy. Instead of studying or doing some work, he liked to spend his days roaming about, amusing himself with his friends and squandering his father's money. When the merchant died, he left all his money to Erik, who spent it in a matter of months.
The only thing left was an empty magic trunk. The minute anyone stepped inside, the trunk rose into the air. One day, Erik, who had no intention of working for a living, decided to face the unknown and seek his fortune. So, he stepped into the trunk and, for days on end, flew across the seas and over woodlands and deserts. At last, he found himself above a city in the East and ordered the trunk to land on the terrace of a wonderful palace. Erik stepped out of the trunk and there in front of him stood a girl, staring at him in amazement.
"I'm Tamara, the Sultan's daughter," she said. "Who are you?"
Quick to turn the situation to his own advantage, Erik replied, "I'm the god of your people. I have come to ask for your hand in marriage."
Fascinated by the handsome stranger and certain that he really was a god, she happily said yes and called her family. The Sultan welcomed the youth with great honors and immediately started to make arrangements for the wedding.
The day before the ceremony, Erik stuffed the trunk full of jewels, golden candlesticks, and fine silks and flew away from the palace towards Copenhagen. However, weighed down by its valuable load, the trunk fell into the sea off the Danish coast. Erik managed to swim ashore and return to Copenhagen, where he sang sad songs at street corners for a living.
In the East, on the terrace of a magnificent palace, a young girl sadly glanced at the sky from time to time, hoping that the god who had suddenly disappeared would come back again.

6
Drag the tiles to the correct boxes to complete the pairs. Not all tiles will be used.
Which sentences from the passage best represent how Erik's character affects the story?
The Sultan welcomed the youth
with great honors and
immediately started to make
arrangements for the wedding.
However, weighed down by its
valuable load, the trunk fell
into the sea off the Danish coast.
Fascinated by the handsome
stranger and certain that he
really was a god, she happily
said yes and called her family.
In the East, on the terrace of a
magnificent palace, a young girl
sadly glanced at the sky from time
to time, hoping that the god who
had suddenly disappeared would
come back again.
Erik managed to swim ashore
and return to Copenhagen,
where he sang sad songs at
street corners for a living.
Erik's Effect on Story
Passage Sentence
Tamara is completely swayed
by Erik's looks and cleverness.
arrowBoth
Tamara is left grieving by Erik's
dishonesty and trickery.
arrowBoth
Erik is left in dishonor after
failing to honor others.
arrowBoth

Answer 1

Here are the sentences from the passage that best represent how Erik's character affects the story, along with the corresponding effects of Erik's actions:

1. Tamara is completely swayed by Erik's looks and cleverness.

   • Passage Sentence: "Fascinated by the handsome stranger and certain that he really was a god, she happily said yes and called her family."

2. Tamara is left grieving by Erik's dishonesty and trickery.

   • Passage Sentence: "In the East, on the terrace of a magnificent palace, a young girl sadly glanced at the sky from time to time, hoping that the god who had suddenly disappeared would come back again."

3. Erik is left in dishonor after failing to honor others.

   • Passage Sentence: "However, weighed down by its valuable load, the trunk fell into the sea off the Danish coast." (While this sentence highlights Erik's fate, it reflects his dishonor as he abandoned Tamara.)

Using these pairs, you can depict how Erik's character traits of laziness, dishonesty, and cleverness not only affect his own fate but also significantly impact Tamara and the story's progression.