Rowan of Rin Chapter 1
At the beginning of the novel, we meet the characters and find out that the village of Rin is in trouble. The stream from the mountain has stopped flowing and that means that the bukshah have no water. The bukshah are very important to the villagers of Rin because they provide them with milk, wool and transport. Without the bukshah, the people of Rin will die. The villagers meet to develop a plan. They decide that someone needs to go up the mountain to find out why there is no water flowing in the stream.
Read the following extracts from Chapter 1 and underline all the words that describe the bukshah.
(p.2) ‘The sadness was for Star, his friend and the strongest and gentlest of all the bukshah. And for all the other great, humped woolly beasts, each of which he knew by name.’
(p.4) ‘They saw a stream and a pool and a heard of strange grey beasts lifting their heads to stare, horns shining in the sun. [...] they came down and mingled with the big, gentle animals, who were tame and unafraid. They called them the bukshah.’
Fast finishers: Using these words, visualise (picture in your mind) what the bukshah might look like. Draw your interpretation of the bukshah below. You might like to label the drawing with the words you underlined above.
Read the following extracts from Chapter 1 and underline all the words that describe the bukshah.
(p.2) ‘The sadness was for Star, his friend and the strongest and gentlest of all the bukshah. And for all the other great, humped woolly beasts, each of which he knew by name.’
(p.4) ‘They saw a stream and a pool and a heard of strange grey beasts lifting their heads to stare, horns shining in the sun. [...] they came down and mingled with the big, gentle animals, who were tame and unafraid. They called them the bukshah.’
Fast finishers: Using these words, visualise (picture in your mind) what the bukshah might look like. Draw your interpretation of the bukshah below. You might like to label the drawing with the words you underlined above.
(p.1) One morning the people of Rin woke to find that the stream that flowed down the Mountain and through the village had slowed to a trickle.
trickle = a small flow of water
1. The reader knows at the beginning of the story about the problem in Rin. What is the problem?
(p.2-3) Rowan knew, as Annad did not, that without the bukshah there would be no rich creamy milk to drink, no cheese, curd and butter to eat. There would be no broad backs to bear the burdens on the longer journeys down the coast to trade with the clever, silent Maris folk. The life of Rin depended on the bukshah. Without them, the village too would die.
bear the burdens = carry the loads
2. Why is the water that flows down the mountain so important for the people of Rin?
trickle = a small flow of water
1. The reader knows at the beginning of the story about the problem in Rin. What is the problem?
(p.2-3) Rowan knew, as Annad did not, that without the bukshah there would be no rich creamy milk to drink, no cheese, curd and butter to eat. There would be no broad backs to bear the burdens on the longer journeys down the coast to trade with the clever, silent Maris folk. The life of Rin depended on the bukshah. Without them, the village too would die.
bear the burdens = carry the loads
2. Why is the water that flows down the mountain so important for the people of Rin?
(p.3-4) They saw trees loaded with small blue fruits and fields of flowers they did not recognise. They saw a stream and a pool and a herd of strange greys beasts lifting their heads to stare, horns shining in the sun. They saw silence, stillness and rich earth and peace. [...] So they came down and mingled with the big, gentle animals, who were tame and unafraid. They called them the bukshah.
beasts = animals
tame = not wild
Read the noun group and adjectives underlined above. 3. How do the people of Rin feel about the bukshah?
beasts = animals
tame = not wild
Read the noun group and adjectives underlined above. 3. How do the people of Rin feel about the bukshah?
(p.9-10)
“Boy Rowan,” called Strong John.
“Little rabbit, herder of the bukshah! [...]”
Rowan stared, open-mouthed, and did not move. He was terrified of Sheba. His mother nudged him. “I will go,” piped up little Annad, beside him. “I am not frightened.” Laughter rippled through the crowd ... Rowan scuttled away through the crowd.
[...]
“He is scared of his shadow, that boy,” he heard Val the miller mutter to her brother, as he passed them. “He will never be the man his father was.”
Ellis grunted in agreement.
Rowan ran on, his cheeks burning with shame.
piped up = spoke
scuttled = ran away quickly
mutter = spoke in a low quiet voice
How was Rowan feeling after he heard Val’s comment?
What do the other villagers think of Rowan?
Does Rowan say anything in response to these comments? ________ Why?
What did you find interesting about this chapter?
Sketch a picture of Rowan below. Then, write four noun groups that describe his character. You might like to look back through chapter 1 and use the same noun groups that Emily Rodda has used.
“Boy Rowan,” called Strong John.
“Little rabbit, herder of the bukshah! [...]”
Rowan stared, open-mouthed, and did not move. He was terrified of Sheba. His mother nudged him. “I will go,” piped up little Annad, beside him. “I am not frightened.” Laughter rippled through the crowd ... Rowan scuttled away through the crowd.
[...]
“He is scared of his shadow, that boy,” he heard Val the miller mutter to her brother, as he passed them. “He will never be the man his father was.”
Ellis grunted in agreement.
Rowan ran on, his cheeks burning with shame.
piped up = spoke
scuttled = ran away quickly
mutter = spoke in a low quiet voice
How was Rowan feeling after he heard Val’s comment?
What do the other villagers think of Rowan?
Does Rowan say anything in response to these comments? ________ Why?
What did you find interesting about this chapter?
Sketch a picture of Rowan below. Then, write four noun groups that describe his character. You might like to look back through chapter 1 and use the same noun groups that Emily Rodda has used.
Rowan of Rin Chapter Two
1. What happened to Rowan’s father?
2. How did the villagers feel about Sefton’s death?
(p.13) At an early age every village child learned to run, climb, jump, swim – and fight. Rowan had trained with the others, but he had never been good at anything. He had always been small for his age. He had always been shy. And since the night of the fire he had been even quieter and more nervous than before. Val was right, he thought. He would never be the man his father was. And neither would he have the strength of his mother [...]
3. Circle the verbs / verb groups above that tell you what the village children learn at an early age.
4. Write the adjectives used above that tell you about Rowan.
(p.13-14) The bukshah loved him, and knew his voice.
5. Circle the verb groups that tell you how the bukshah feel towards Rowan.
(p.13-14) In return he tried to make their lives comfortable, learning to cure their ills, treating their cuts and bruises as his mother treated his, combing burs and prickles from their woolly coats. When the winter snows blew in the valley, he would bring the old and weak to shelter, for he knew that the freezing winds could kill them, and he could not bear to lose even one. In the spring, when the blossom of the orchard sweetened the air, he would run and play with the calves, and carry them handfuls of new peas he stole from the gardens when no one was looking.
burs = prickly seeds
6. Circle the verbs / verb groups above that tell you what Rowan did for the bukshah.
7. How does Rowan feel about the bukshah?
(p.15) Rowan thought of putting the cheese down on the doorstep and running home. But as he stepped forward a twig snapped under the toe of his boot.
8. Why is Rowan thinking like this?
(p.16) Rowan hesitated. Marlie beside him, gave him a little push. His feet felt like stone. He forced them forward, a step at a time.
9. Circle the verbs above that tell you how Rowan was acting.
10.Write the simile used above that tells you how Rowan’s feet felt.
11.In your own words, explain how Rowan is feeling.
(p.16-17) Rowan hugged himself and shuddered sheltering behind the tall figure of Marlie from those terrible red eyes. What if he had chosen badly? What if the cheeses were no good after all? What if Sheba thought he was trying to trick her?
12.Circle the verbs / verb groups above that tell you how Rowan was acting.
13.Rowan asks himself a lot of questions. What does this tell you about the way he is feeling?
2. How did the villagers feel about Sefton’s death?
(p.13) At an early age every village child learned to run, climb, jump, swim – and fight. Rowan had trained with the others, but he had never been good at anything. He had always been small for his age. He had always been shy. And since the night of the fire he had been even quieter and more nervous than before. Val was right, he thought. He would never be the man his father was. And neither would he have the strength of his mother [...]
3. Circle the verbs / verb groups above that tell you what the village children learn at an early age.
4. Write the adjectives used above that tell you about Rowan.
(p.13-14) The bukshah loved him, and knew his voice.
5. Circle the verb groups that tell you how the bukshah feel towards Rowan.
(p.13-14) In return he tried to make their lives comfortable, learning to cure their ills, treating their cuts and bruises as his mother treated his, combing burs and prickles from their woolly coats. When the winter snows blew in the valley, he would bring the old and weak to shelter, for he knew that the freezing winds could kill them, and he could not bear to lose even one. In the spring, when the blossom of the orchard sweetened the air, he would run and play with the calves, and carry them handfuls of new peas he stole from the gardens when no one was looking.
burs = prickly seeds
6. Circle the verbs / verb groups above that tell you what Rowan did for the bukshah.
7. How does Rowan feel about the bukshah?
(p.15) Rowan thought of putting the cheese down on the doorstep and running home. But as he stepped forward a twig snapped under the toe of his boot.
8. Why is Rowan thinking like this?
(p.16) Rowan hesitated. Marlie beside him, gave him a little push. His feet felt like stone. He forced them forward, a step at a time.
9. Circle the verbs above that tell you how Rowan was acting.
10.Write the simile used above that tells you how Rowan’s feet felt.
11.In your own words, explain how Rowan is feeling.
(p.16-17) Rowan hugged himself and shuddered sheltering behind the tall figure of Marlie from those terrible red eyes. What if he had chosen badly? What if the cheeses were no good after all? What if Sheba thought he was trying to trick her?
12.Circle the verbs / verb groups above that tell you how Rowan was acting.
13.Rowan asks himself a lot of questions. What does this tell you about the way he is feeling?
Sheba
Read the following extract from Chapter 2 (p.16).
She hunched her shoulders and stared at Rowan. In the firelight her eyes looked red. Her forehead was bound with a purple rag, and her hair hung like thin grey tails around her face. She smelt of ash and dust, old cloth and bitter herbs.
Use this quote from Chapter 2 to help you draw Sheba in the box below. Then, write four noun groups in the bubbles that describe Sheba. You can look back in chapter 2 if needed.
She hunched her shoulders and stared at Rowan. In the firelight her eyes looked red. Her forehead was bound with a purple rag, and her hair hung like thin grey tails around her face. She smelt of ash and dust, old cloth and bitter herbs.
Use this quote from Chapter 2 to help you draw Sheba in the box below. Then, write four noun groups in the bubbles that describe Sheba. You can look back in chapter 2 if needed.
Rowan’s appearance
1. What does Strong John say Rowan looks like?
Find the noun group on page 18 that describes Rowan. Write it below.
Rowan’s actions
2. What does Rowan do as Sheba prods at the cheeses?
Find the verbs group at the bottom of page 16 and write them below.
Rowan’s dialogue
3. What does Rowan say to Strong John?
Find the saying verb on page 20 that tells you how Rowan spoke. Write it below.
Rowan’s feelings
4. How does Rowan feel when Sheba asks him to get closer? Find the simile on page 16 and write it below.
Rowan’s feelings
5. How does Rowan feel about Sheba’s prediction?
Find the adjective at the top of page 18 and write it below.
Rowan’s thoughts
6. What can’t Rowan forget after the meeting with Sheba?
Find the answer on page 21 and write it below.
How does Emily Rodda use language to show Rowan’s character in this event?
7. (Choose your responses)
The verbs that Emily Rodda uses tell us about Rowan’s behaviour. They
show us that Rowan is _____________________________________. Rowan uses (hardly any / a lot of) dialogue. Emily Rodda shows us that Rowan is feeling (scared/ confident/ insecure /frightened) and (does/ does not) speak very much. When he speaks, he uses a (soft / loud) voice. The author shows us how
(scared /confident) Rowan is through his thoughts and feelings.
What did you find interesting about this chapter?
What do you think will happen in the next chapter?
1. What does Strong John say Rowan looks like?
Find the noun group on page 18 that describes Rowan. Write it below.
Rowan’s actions
2. What does Rowan do as Sheba prods at the cheeses?
Find the verbs group at the bottom of page 16 and write them below.
Rowan’s dialogue
3. What does Rowan say to Strong John?
Find the saying verb on page 20 that tells you how Rowan spoke. Write it below.
Rowan’s feelings
4. How does Rowan feel when Sheba asks him to get closer? Find the simile on page 16 and write it below.
Rowan’s feelings
5. How does Rowan feel about Sheba’s prediction?
Find the adjective at the top of page 18 and write it below.
Rowan’s thoughts
6. What can’t Rowan forget after the meeting with Sheba?
Find the answer on page 21 and write it below.
How does Emily Rodda use language to show Rowan’s character in this event?
7. (Choose your responses)
The verbs that Emily Rodda uses tell us about Rowan’s behaviour. They
show us that Rowan is _____________________________________. Rowan uses (hardly any / a lot of) dialogue. Emily Rodda shows us that Rowan is feeling (scared/ confident/ insecure /frightened) and (does/ does not) speak very much. When he speaks, he uses a (soft / loud) voice. The author shows us how
(scared /confident) Rowan is through his thoughts and feelings.
What did you find interesting about this chapter?
What do you think will happen in the next chapter?
Chapter 3
8. List the characters who volunteered to go up the mountain - why did they volunteer?
Read this extract from page 27.
Rowan had often felt that Allun might be the one person in the village who understood how he felt, as he too was weaker, and different from the others. Not that Allun had ever said so. But when he visited the house with Marlie and Strong John, he often joked with Rowan and took an interest in what he was doing, and made excuses for his mistakes.
9. Why would Rowan feel that Allun might be his friend?
10.What does Allun have in common with Rowan? List some similarities here.
Read this extract from page 27.
Rowan had often felt that Allun might be the one person in the village who understood how he felt, as he too was weaker, and different from the others. Not that Allun had ever said so. But when he visited the house with Marlie and Strong John, he often joked with Rowan and took an interest in what he was doing, and made excuses for his mistakes.
9. Why would Rowan feel that Allun might be his friend?
10.What does Allun have in common with Rowan? List some similarities here.
Chapter 4
- Chapter 4 (Write the answers in full sentences in your English books)
- What was Rowan doing when he found the parchment? P 31
- When was the groups of people travelling up the mountain leaving? P 32
- Describe how Jiller looked when she told the villagers Rowan had the map. P 33
- What did Allun think of Rowan when the parchment was blank? P 34
- Did Strong Jonn believe Rowan and Jiller? Why?
- What happened when Timon the teacher tried to copy the map? P 36/37
- What were the reasons Jiller gave that Rowan should not go up the mountain? P36
- Did Bronden think Rowan should go up the mountain, why? P 37
- Why did Rowan think he could go on the quest?
- Briefly summarise chapter 3 by selecting 3 main ideas (main parts) and discuss.
- What was the stick Sheba had thrown at Rowan? pg. 34
- What was on the parchment? pg. 35
- Who had to hold the parchment to make the map appear? pg. 39
Sara wanted Allum to go up the mountain. (p. 27)
The group of villagers went up the mountain that night. (p. 28)
Rowan was upset by Sheba’s words. (p. 28)
Rowan slept well that night. (p. 29)
Rowan dreamt of Sheba’s hut. (p. 29)
Rowan went back to sleep after his dream. (p.30)
Rowan couldn’t find Sheba’s stick. (p.30)
The stick was a piece of parchment. ( p.31)
Annad woke up. ( p.31)
Rowan saw a map of the Mountain with a pathway marked in blue. (p. 31)
Sheba tricked the villagers. (p.31)
The mountain party were to leave before dawn. (p.32)
The parchment was blank. (p.33)
When Rowan held the parchment, the map could be seen again. (p.35)
Jiller was confused. (p.35)
Sheba didn’t want Rowan to go on the journey up the mountain. (p.36)
Timon copied the map ( p.36)
Bronden did not want to take the map. (p.37)
John did not want Rowan to go with them. (p.37)
John cared a lot for Rowan’s mother. (p.38)
Rowan was excited about the journey. (p.38)
Rowan always supported the bukshah. (p.39)
Demonstrate how to work out the meaning of a difficult word:
fascinated,
parchment p31,
brow, indrawn p32,
surrendered p35,
bewitched p36,
discarded,
senseless p37,
scarlet,
quiver,
rueful p38,
saviour,
muzzle p39.
Chapter 5
- How did Strong John feel about Rowan’s mother? pg. 47
- How many people did Sheba say would go on this journey? pg. 47
- How many white patches were there on the map? pg. 51
Chapter 6
1. Why did Rowan faint? (Page 51/52 pitied = felt sorry for, gallantly = proudly)
2. Who helped Rowan climb the cliff? (page 53 craned = turned, retorted = said)
3. What do you think the poem means? Do you think the poem will be helpful or more of a hinder for them? (page 54 jot = bit, hauled = pulled)
4. What dangers might be awaiting them in the forest? (page 55/56 infernal = evil or cursed, trudged = went, cannoned = bumped/hit/crashed)
5. What do you think is making the loud sounds? (page 57 incredulously = disbelievingly/surprisingly, abide = bear/stand/tolerate)
6. So far several members of the group have had to endure awful experiences. What do you think this journey is testing? (page 58 Vocab tottered = walked, swathed = covered)
7. Where did Ellis go? Do you think he will get back to the village safely? (page 59 crouched = gathered, companions = friends)
8. What appeared in one of the clear white spaces? pg. 58
9. Who was so scared of the spiders he ran back to Rin? pg. 64
10. How did they shine sunlight on the webs? pg. 68
11. How will they pass through the silken door?
12. In the verse it says ‘fire and light will be your friends’ what do you think this might mean? (page 60 baffled = surprised, chitter = cheep/chirp/twitter
13. Do you think the fire will work? Why or why not?
14. Do you think Val made it through?
15. What do you think is on the other side of the silken door?
16. What do you think will happen in the next chapter?
2. Who helped Rowan climb the cliff? (page 53 craned = turned, retorted = said)
3. What do you think the poem means? Do you think the poem will be helpful or more of a hinder for them? (page 54 jot = bit, hauled = pulled)
4. What dangers might be awaiting them in the forest? (page 55/56 infernal = evil or cursed, trudged = went, cannoned = bumped/hit/crashed)
5. What do you think is making the loud sounds? (page 57 incredulously = disbelievingly/surprisingly, abide = bear/stand/tolerate)
6. So far several members of the group have had to endure awful experiences. What do you think this journey is testing? (page 58 Vocab tottered = walked, swathed = covered)
7. Where did Ellis go? Do you think he will get back to the village safely? (page 59 crouched = gathered, companions = friends)
8. What appeared in one of the clear white spaces? pg. 58
9. Who was so scared of the spiders he ran back to Rin? pg. 64
10. How did they shine sunlight on the webs? pg. 68
11. How will they pass through the silken door?
12. In the verse it says ‘fire and light will be your friends’ what do you think this might mean? (page 60 baffled = surprised, chitter = cheep/chirp/twitter
13. Do you think the fire will work? Why or why not?
14. Do you think Val made it through?
15. What do you think is on the other side of the silken door?
16. What do you think will happen in the next chapter?
Chapter 7
1. Why is everyone in the group feeling down and weak? (page 63/64 hurtling = moving/travelling, unwholesome = unhealthy/sickening, keenly = painfully)
2. Were Sheba’s predictions beginning to come true? (page 65 Vocab marshland = swamp land, ravenously = hungrily
3. What do you think the message means?
4. What dangers are waiting them? (page 67 Vocab sturdy = strong)
5. How do you think should lead the group? Why?
6. What is the author implying when she used quotation marks when she wrote “to balance the load”? ( page 68 Vocab obediently = compliantly/loyally, decreed = decided).
7. What do you think Rowan can see?
8. Do you think Star is really there? (page 69 squelching = stamping)
9. Why did Rowan see Star being sucked down by the mud? (page 70/71 faltered = said, menacingly = seriously)
10. What do you think will happen? How will they save themselves from this mess? (page 72/73 Vocab snare = trap)
2. Were Sheba’s predictions beginning to come true? (page 65 Vocab marshland = swamp land, ravenously = hungrily
3. What do you think the message means?
4. What dangers are waiting them? (page 67 Vocab sturdy = strong)
5. How do you think should lead the group? Why?
6. What is the author implying when she used quotation marks when she wrote “to balance the load”? ( page 68 Vocab obediently = compliantly/loyally, decreed = decided).
7. What do you think Rowan can see?
8. Do you think Star is really there? (page 69 squelching = stamping)
9. Why did Rowan see Star being sucked down by the mud? (page 70/71 faltered = said, menacingly = seriously)
10. What do you think will happen? How will they save themselves from this mess? (page 72/73 Vocab snare = trap)