UNIT 2 ‘Grandmother’s Song

AACHI GLOBAL SCHOOL

PRIOR KNOWLEDGE WORKSHEET -2023
Grade 8: Name
Date
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Language worksheet
In this worksheet, you will focus on recognising the vocabulary of a particular genre of writing.
Traditional stories often include specific types of language and vocabulary. For example, folk tales
and fairy tales often contain simple words that refer to natural settings and creatures. But how is a
folk tale different from a myth, a legend or fable?

1 Draw a line to match each traditional story genre to its meaning.

folk tale a short story or poem, usually with animal characters, that teaches a lesson
or moral

myth a traditional story written for children that usually involves imaginary
creatures and magic

fairy tale a fictional tale that explains the actions of gods or heroes or the origins of
elements of nature

legend a story that parents have passed on to their children through speech over
many years

fable a long story about past events over a long period of time

saga a very old story that people tell about a famous event or person that may or
may not be true

2 Look at the words and phrases in the box, which include characters and ideas from traditional
stories. Write each one in the correct column of the table. Some of them may fit in more than
one column. Use your answers to Activity 1 to help you.

Once upon a time . . . the Greek god, Zeus the cunning fox a dragon

the lost city of Atlantis a cruel king an orphaned child three wishes

the moral of this story is . . . a strange old man an elf the hungry crocodile

the lost princess the Nian the lost gold of the Incas Anansi the spider

Cambridge Lower Secondary English 8 PRKW _____________

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 Vikran and Betal immortals in a land far, far away the Underworld a mermaid

Folk or fairy tale Myth Legend Fable

3 Traditional stories often feature conflict between ‘good’ and ‘bad’ characters, heroes and
villains. If necessary, use a dictionary to look up the meanings of the following words. Sort
them into the Venn diagram below. Could any of the words fit in the middle?

cruel devious valiant enchanting wrathful intrepid courteous

daring deceitful fearless mischievous gallant wretched courageous

bitter resolute malicious powerful devoted vengeful

Cambridge Lower Secondary English 8 PRKW _____________

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 Words used to describe heroes Words used to describe villains

Cambridge Lower Secondary English 8 PRKW _____________

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