Chapter One – In Which We Observe A HairRaising Event • What was the prince's nickname? • Describe his misbehavior at the grand feast. • What does the term common boy mean? • Who was Jemmy? • What is a whipping boy? • Why was the Prince Brat disappointed with Jemmy?
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What could Jemmy count on first thing in the morning? Who was Master Peckwit? Why did the prince insist that he needn't pay attention to his lessons? How long did these whippings continue?
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Why did the prince wake Jemmy in the middle of the night? According to the prince, what was the reason for his decision? Why was Jemmy opposed to the prince's plans?
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How were they able to find their way in the night? How did they become lost? What did Jemmy plan to do as soon as he had the opportunity? What was the yellow glow floating in the fog?
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Who had apprehended the two boys and what was his reputation? How did Cutwater react when the young prince informed him that he was Prince Horace? What did Billy say to the two boys as he grabbed them by their ears? What did Cutwater discover just as Billy was about to release the boys?
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Describe Billy's castle. What food did Billy offer the two boys to satisfy their hunger? What did Billy take from the wicker basket and place on his head? How did the highwayman decide that the ransom for the prince should be fifty-five pounds in gold?
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Describe the materials used to write the ransom note. Explain why neither Billy nor Cutwater wrote the ransom note. Why did the robbers think that the two boys had been lying about the true identity of the prince? Explain how Jemmy's behavior changed at the end of the chapter.
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How did Billy reassure Cutwater that he didn't have to worry about the king's soldiers finding them? Why did Jemmy feel that it was important for him to act high and mighty? What did Jemmy insist the highwayman should request for a ransom in exchange for a prince?
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According to Billy, why was garlic good for you? What concern did Cutwater express about the note that the "prince" had written? What caused Prince Horace's eyes to widen and his face to blanche? How did Billy and Cutwater ensure that the note was not a trick? How did Jemmy suggest that they get the message to the king without being nabbed.
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Why did Billy and Cutwater finally agree to send the whipping boy to the castle with the message? Why did Prince Brat warn Jemmy to be quiet and not speak harshly to the two ruffians? What did Jemmy insist must accompany the whipping boy to convince the king that the message was not a fraud? Describe Prince Brat's surprising behavior at the end of this chapter.
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How do the thieves interpret the young boy's refusal to deliver the message? Why is Jemmy upset with the prince? What do they offer to give Prince Horace? What alternative plan does the quick thinking Jemmy suggest to the thieves.
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Where did Hold-Your-Nose Billy place the ransom note and the golden crown? Why was Jemmy convinced that not a soul at the castle would be fooled by the ransom note? Why does Jemmy hide under the straw? How are his plans almost foiled?
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What causes Jemmy to almost jump out of his skin as he runs through the forest? Where does Jemmy hide? Why was Jemmy angry with the prince?
• To whom did the wailing voice in the forest belong? • Why was Betsy carrying a chunk of amber honey comb and a coil of rope? • Where was Betsy headed? • How did Prince Brat react when he noticed the soldiers riding along the river road?
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Why did Jemmy intend to do with the driftwood that he was collecting from the mudflats? What plans did Jemmy have for the bent and battered birdcage? Describe what Jemmy saw when he crawled up over the embankment. Why was Captain Nips willing to offer the boys a ride to the fair? Why did the coach come to a sudden halt?
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Why did only Jemmy hide under the potatoes? Who did Billy tell Captain Nips he was looking for? Why did Cutwater think that Jemmy had suggested a cartload of gold and jewels for the ransom? How did the prince react to his own whipping? Who came to the boys' rescue?
• How does Betsy reassure the prince that he needn't be afraid? • What had happened to the two highwaymen? • How did the travelers manage to turn the coach upright? • Why did the soldiers quickly wave on the coach?
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Where were the chained prisoners being taken? What did Captain Nips offer Jemmy? Who did Jemmy meet at the fair? What did Jemmy mean when he said he could do sums? Why was Jemmy upset that when the prince shook Smudge's hand? What rumor did the cow lady relay to the prince? What information does Jemmy reveal to the prince about his "loyal" subjects? According to the broadsides what had happened to the prince?
• What safe place or haven was Jemmy headed to when Billy and Cutwater spotted him? • Why was the prince hesitant to go into the sewers? • Why did Jemmy tell the prince that they must avoid the tunnel that led to the brewery? • What false information did Ol' Tosher give to Billy and Cutwater? • Explain the prince's words, "They look like they're wearing fur coats.
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Why did Jemmy agree to return to the castle with the prince? List the people in the group who were ushered into the throne room? Why title did the king bestow on Petunia? What had Prince Horace sworn to do? Where were Billy and Cutwater last seen?
How many of these words can you define? What page are they located on? footman, forbidden, cuff, carefree, plucked, defiantly, humbled, contrite, exasperation, scowl, bawl, gloat, bellow, obliged tutor, muttered, duds, fetch, ferrets, scholar, spectacles, smirking, contrary, rascal, spite, sums manservant, wicker, bolt, moat, clattered, protested, dreadful, gallows dawn, swirled, halter, maze, insolent, lantern, swayed, cutthroat, cleaver, cackled garlic, ruffian, ballad, exploits, highwayman, villain, jab, thimbleful, rogues, awe, crest, desperately, scornfully, fled, genuine moldy, thached, braided garlic, herring, brace, bleated, tangled, trifle, vagabonds,
rummaged, curs, document, erupted, scheme, mangy, quill, ignorant, amiss, flummox, arrogantly, mere, orphan, haughty, gnat, witless captors, loyal, scoundrels, pace, gnawing, sullenly, paltry, ransom, fowl, flourish clove, plague, scrawny, glared, contemplated, varmints, scoffed, regal, insolent, oafs, flogging, blanched, civil, stumble precious, blab, tote, clashed, fuming, indifference, mite, decisive, pretense, cloven-footed snatch, confounded, stubborn, lurching, parley, imposter, muddled, fathom, shuffled, mount, nitwit, pitch pipe, stables betrayed, gleeful, linen, squint, wheezed, brambles, dunce, moonshine, fake, truss, hesitation thoroughbred, instinct, nabbed, bellows, deserted, bristled, pondered, dismissed, foliage
grimly, garments, wailing, bracelets, spirit, coiled, amber, clinging, tatters, barnacle, starched, resentment, stag, ventured, embankment, billowing, masts, tide, exposed, stave, stooped, retrieve, weary, mired, rickety, reins, bog, strained, resist, receding, cockeyed, heir surge, burrow, scurvy, apprentices, muffled, scat, plunder, ounce, simpletons, girded greyhound, tend, winced, scruffy, steep, hazards, incident cobbled, immense, turf, convict, stalls, juggler, battered, canvas, privilege, fathom, lingered, acrobats, stilt, harp, hubbub, flush, bleak, stammer, bluster, stout, gnarled, archer, treasonous, wares, loomed, brazen, bushel, plump, balked, gorged dogged, decree, urgent, bonfire, altered, derelict, barge, steeled, fret, sloshed, glazed, brewery, manacle, inaudible, dank, gossip, sputtered, riffraff, curse, impulse, scuttled, elation, abrupt, bearings, rebel, leeches verge, befuddled, ushered, noose, notorious, stow, convict
*1. Write a dialogue that could have taken place between the King and the prince while they were alone after the prince's return. (You may try reading suggested question 12 at the end of the book for ideas of what kind of information to include). *2. Point of view Tell the story from the point of view of Jemmy, the Prince, Billy or Cutwater, or Betsy. 3. Figures of speech- Choose at least five of Sid's many, many similes. Write them, the page number on which they can be found, and an explanation of what each is describing. Pick one of them and write a different version of simile that Sid could have used to describe the same thing. 4. Follow the path- Write a summary of the story in 9-12 short segments and present it on a game board with an illustrated path format. 5. Draw an illustration of one of your favorite parts of the story and accompany it with an explanatory caption of what is going on in the picture. 6. Point of view-Choose one specific incident. Write the facts of what happened. Write three separate paragraphs below it, each explaining the reactions and feelings of three of the characters involved in the situation. 7. Write a skit depicting one chapter/incident from the novel. Practice and present (with friends). 8. New words- Choose 10 of the vocabulary words you identified. Write each, the page it was found on, the definition, and a sentence for each.