Sir Marrok: The Werewolf Knight Reader's Theatre story/script with Questions

One day, after Sir Marrok had returned home from one of his mysterious trips, the inquisitive and worried Lady Marrok approached him.

Lady Marrok

My dear husband, I must ask you something, but I am afraid my question will make you angry.

Sir Marrok embraced his wife in a hug and looked lovingly into her eyes.

Sir Marrok

Fear not, I will tell you anything within my power to tell.

Lady Marrok

I am very frightened when you leave me alone. I dread losing you, for I do not know where you go. Pray, tell me, what is your secret?

The knight sighed, and revealed a pained expression on his face.

Sir Marrok

Please, ask me no more questions. If I told you the truth, only evil would come of it. You would begin to loathe me, and I would be lost.

Lady Marrok persisted with her question.

Lady Marrok

I could never loathe you, my husband. Please tell me, where do you go?

Sir Marrok

I refuse to reveal that answer.

Included in the Sir Marrok: The Werewolf Knight Reader's Theatre Unit:

9 page script

5 characters + the narrator

3 major characters and 2 minor characters

50 analytical questions

Student Evaluations based on 4 levels and 5 criteria.

Student Success Criteria

Student Friendly Goals

Reader's Theatre Checklist

Sir Marrok: The Werewolf Knight synopsis:

Every week, Sir Marrok disappears for three day. His wife, Lady Marrok, worries about his weekly disappearances. When she confronts him about it, Sir Marrok refuses to answer. Lady Marrok's persistence finally brings forth an answer: Sir Marrok says he is a werewolf, and he must escape to the forest every week for three days. The only way he can transform back into his human form, is by putting his clothes on after three days. He hides his clothing in an old chapel. Privately, Lady Marrok is repulsed with her husband's revelation, so she plots against him. Lady Marrok was once courted by another knight, so she asks that knight to steal Sir Marrok's clothing from the chapel so that Sir Marrok will remain a werewolf forever. Once Sir Marrok disappears, Lady Marrok pretends to be distraught by organizing search parties for him. Later on, she marries the knight who had formerly courted her.

One day, the King is hunting in the forest when he sees a large wolf. The wolf grabs the King's boot and begins to lick it. The King is impressed with the wolf, saying it acts like a human. The King takes the wolf out of the forest and allows it to live in his castle. Later on, the King has a party and he invites the former Lady Marrok and her new husband. When the wolf sees them, he growls at her husband and bites Lady Marrok's nose off. The King is about to have the wolf killed, when the royal courtier says that the wolf has been kind to everyone, except Lady Marrok and her husband, so they must have a connection to the wolf. The King questions Lady Marrok, and she later reveals that the wolf is Sir Marrok, and the only way to make him transform back into a human is by wearing his own garments. Sir Marrok's garments are brought to the castle. The wolf and the garments are placed in a private chamber. After some time has passed, the door of the chamber is opened, revealing Sir Marrok. The King is thrilled to see his old friend again, and banishes the former Lady Marrok and her husband from his kingdom.

Do not fear the reader's theater format. Students love these adapted stories because they are listening to the story and they are a part of the story by playing a character within the story. Reader's theatre inspires reluctant readers to join in the fun. The strongest and most advanced readers in your class will encourage other students to raise their hand and participate in the story. I also use reader's theatre to add to my drama marks.

If the reader's theatre format did not work for my students and I, then I would have stopped creating and adapting them years ago.

Reluctant readers sometimes feel anxious looking at pages of text, whereas a reader's theater script is broken up into narration and different characters speaking, thus making the story more accessible to those students who have not discovered the incredibly fun activity of reading for entertainment.

When can one make time for a reader's theatre story in class?

When I am not reading a reader's theatre unit with my class, I reserve Friday's for a reading of a one-off story. It is an event that the class looks forward to, since they do not know which story I will choose. Great for Librarians. I project the stories on the screen and assign characters in class. Some characters only have 1 line. A character like that is perfect for a reluctant reader.

I hope you and your students enjoy reading Sir Marrok: The Werewolf Knight.

Excelsior!

Mr. Marvel: The King of Reader's Theatre