Summarizing Literary Text Quick Check

Question

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Feature

The Crow-Child
by Mary Mapes Dodge

Midway between a certain blue lake and a deep forest there once stood a cottage, called by its owner “The Rookery.”

The forest shut out the sunlight and scowled upon the ground, breaking with shadows every ray that fell, until only a few little pieces lay scattered about. But the broad lake invited all the rays to come and rest upon her, so that sometimes she shone from shore to shore, and the sun winked and blinked above her, as though dazzled by his own reflection. The cottage, which was very small, had sunny windows and dark windows. Only from the roof could you see the mountains beyond, where the light crept up in the morning and down in the evening, turning all the brooks into living silver as it passed.

But something brighter than sunshine used often to look from the cottage into the forest, and something even more gloomy than shadows often glowered from its windows upon the sunny lake. One was the face of little Ruky Lynn; and the other was his sister’s when she felt angry or ill-tempered.

They were orphans, Cora and Ruky, living alone in the cottage with an old uncle. Cora—or “Cor,” as Ruky called her—was nearly sixteen years old, but her brother had seen the forest turn yellow only four times. She was, therefore, almost mother and sister in one. The little fellow was her companion night and day. Together they ate and slept, and—when Cora was not at work in the cottage—together they rambled in the wood, or floated in their little skiff upon the lake.

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Question
Use the story to answer the question.

Which details are essential to include in an objective summary of the story?

Select the two correct answers.

(1 point)
Responses

a brief description of the two main characters
a brief description of the two main characters

an analysis of the relationship between the siblings
an analysis of the relationship between the siblings

the genre to which the story belongs
the genre to which the story belongs

the lesson the main character learns
the lesson the main character learns

an opinion on the mistake the main character makes
an opinion on the mistake the main character makes

Answer 1

To create an objective summary of "The Crow-Child," the essential details to include would be:

1. A brief description of the two main characters - This provides basic context about who the story is about, specifically Ruky Lynn and his sister Cora.
2. The genre to which the story belongs - Knowing the genre can help frame the expectations for the story's themes and style.

The other options (analysis of the sibling relationship, lesson learned by the main character, and opinions on mistakes) would be more subjective and not strictly essential for an objective summary.