The Dark Is Rising

Part 1, Chapters 1-4

Reading Check

1. A tramp (Chapter 1)

2. Put it on his belt (Chapter 1)

3. The black Rider appears (Chapter 2)

4. His mother (a dog would also be an acceptable answer) (Chapter 3)

5. Lights a fire (Chapter 4)

Short Answer

1. The animals all act like they’re afraid of him, and the radio plays loud static whenever he goes near it. (Chapter 1)

2. Snow is the birthday present that Will wants more than anything; in addition, his father says that 11 is a special birthday and should have a special ceremony. (Chapter 1)

3. Will feels it instinctively without knowing why. He doesn’t even know it is true until he says it. (Chapter 2)

4. Will believes that he, Merriman, and the Lady have defeated the Dark, so he thinks it is safe to open the doors. (Chapter 3)

5. First, he was standing on one of the Old Ways that the Old Ones used, and second, Merriman knew the girl’s true name. (Chapter 4)

Part 2, Chapters 5-8

Reading Check

1. Will’s ornament (a cross-quartered circle would also be an acceptable answer) (Chapter 5)

2. A book (Chapter 6)

3. The sign of wood (Chapter 6)

4. The dairy maid Maggie Barnes, the witch-girl (Chapter 7)

5. Because Will’s father invited him (Chapter 8)

Short Answer

1. The Dark thought it could get power over Will by taking his ornament. (Chapter 5)

2. Even though oak is stronger and lasts longer, rowan is a sacred tree that is especially loved by the Light. (Chapter 7)

3. The plan was that if the Dark tricked Merriman or got control of him, the other Old Ones could kill Hawkin so that Merriman would not be able to give the Dark the book. (Chapter 7)

4. The seventh son of a seventh son is supposed to have magical powers. (Chapter 7)  

5. The church is a place where people gather to think about good and evil; therefore, the Dark, which is older than Christianity, can gain entrance. (Chapter 8)

Part 3, Chapters 9-13

Reading Check

1. Reading to the children (Chapter 9)

2. The doctor gives him a shot that puts him to sleep. (Chapter 10)

3. One of her hairs (Chapter 11)

4. Herne’s Oak (Chapter 12)

5. A horn for Will and a flute for Paul (Chapter 13)

Short Answer

1. Will’s brother Robin says that their father is stuck-up. Will’s father says he doesn’t want to put an extra burden on the Manor and that they have everything they need at home. (Chapter 9)

2. The Lady calls the scar a sign of fire (but not the Sign of fire). It was made when Will’s arm brushed the Sign of iron on his belt when the Dark was outside the doors of the hall. The scar is shiny like a burn. (Chapter 10)

3. If Will does, the Dark will take over the world, which would be much worse for everyone than just losing his sister. He has to choose to save the world instead. (Chapter 11)

4. Hawkin is no more used to the Dark now that Will has all six Signs. Hawkin was supposed to get the signs from Will, and he failed. The Light will sometimes sacrifice a single individual for the greater good the way Will did with Mary, but the Dark only cares about how it can use people. (Chapter 12)