Staar: The Emperor and the Nightingale

Read this line from the play.

EMPEROR: How can such a plain-looking bird sing so beautiful?

What is the most likely purpose of this line?

• To create suspense about what the emperor will do next

• To set a tone of bewilderment

• To resolve the emperor's problem

• To foreshadow an event that will change the emperor's perspective.

What is the best summary of the play?

• The emperor hears about a nightingale, and when he sees it, he is impressed by its song but not by its looks. Later the craftsman brings the emperor an attractive mechanical nightingale. Since the real nightingale has been replaced, it leaves, returning only when the emperor has learned an important lesson.

• The emperor hears his servants discussing the beauty of the palace. When they mention the beautiful song of the nightingale, the emperor asks them to bring the bird to him. While the emperor truly enjoys the song of the nightingale, a craftsman makes him a mechanical nightingale that he likes even more.

• While the emperor owns many beautiful things, he wants to hear the song of a nightingale that lives in the forest. He is excited when a craftsman brings him a beautiful mechanical that signs just like the real one. He uses the mechanical nightingale so much that it breaks.

• The emperor asks to hear the singing of a nightingale that his servants have mentioned. Although the nightingale does not look beautiful, its singing is lovely. The emperor keeps the nightingale by his side so that he can hear its song wherever he pleases.

The servants' conversation in Scene 1 is important because it -

• shows that the emperor depends on other people

• explains why the emperor enjoys listening to music

• establishes how much the emperor values beauty

• illustrates why the nightingale prefers to live in the forest

Which words from Scene 4 help the reader know what distorted means?

• broke last year

• cared only for

• never see her again

• advised you

Why are the stage directions at the end of Scene 3 important?

• They tell the reader that the nightingale abandons the emperor.

• They allow the reader to appreciate the beauty of the mechanical nightingale.

• They help the reader visualize the comfortable surroundings the emperor enjoys.

• They let the reader recognize the difference between the two nightingales.

What causes the emperor to realize he made a mistake?

• The mechanical nightingale puts him to sleep.

• The mechanical nightingale can no longer make music.

• The real nightingale leaves the place.

• The real nightingale grants the emperor forgiveness.

The language used in paragraph 4 helps the reader infer that the -

• servants were doubtful of the garden's existence at first

• garden is a new addition to the emperor's kingdom

• beauty of the emperor's garden is unrivaled

• emperor has a great knowledge of many types of plants

What does the emperor’s dialogue at the end of scene 1 suggest about him?

• He feel sorrowful that he doesn’t give the Nightingale time to sing to him.

• He believes that he has enough power to have the Nightingale brought to him.

• He misses the Nightingale in his room.

• He is deeply interested in how the servants will bring the Nightingale to him.

What is the best theme of the play?

• Don’t judge a book by it’s cover.

• When you are weak, don’t make others feel worse.

• Singing can be helpful when dealing with stress.

• People must take time to take care of their health.

From scene 3 to scene 4, the dialogue spoken from the emperor becomes more

• Pleasant and amusing

• Confusing and suspicious

• Melancholy and somber

• Frightening and panicky