Core Skills Workout: Mood-HL
DRAMA: The Curse of King Tut, pages 9–15
February 2017
®
THE LANGUAGE ARTS MAGAZINE
Name: ___________________________________________________ Date: ________________________
Exploring Mood
Mood is the feeling you get from reading a piece of writing. Another way to describe mood is atmosphere.
When you walk into a place, it has an atmosphere that makes you feel a certain way; when you “walk into” a story, it too
has an atmosphere that creates a feeling. Writers create mood through word choice, imagery, dialogue, setting, and plot.
In this activity, you will consider the mood of Scene 1 from The Curse of King Tut
by Spencer Kayden. Here is the scene, which is found on page 10:
N1: Lady Evelyn Herbert sits at the bedside of her father, Lord
Herbert: What do you mean?
Carnarvon. Books and clothes are strewn about the dimly lit
Doctor: Many believe that the final resting place of a pharaoh is
room.
sacred—and that those who enter a pharaoh’s tomb will be cursed.
N2: Carnarvon looks thin and frail in the large bed.
N1: CLAP! Thunder echoes outside. Lady Herbert and the doctor
Carnarvon: I will be fine, my dear.
both jump.
Herbert: But Father, your skin has turned so pale. And that red
Herbert (whispering ): Father did fall ill soon after he entered
mark on your cheek looks like it’s on fire.
Tutankhamen’s tomb.
Carnarvon: It is nothing. Just a mosquito bite.
N2: Lord Carnarvon’s body begins to tremble. He reaches for his
Herbert: Are you sure? You seem to be having trouble breathing.
daughter’s hand.
Carnarvon: I’m euphoric!
Carnarvon: Dearest Evelyn, tell Carter he must . . .
Herbert (taking his hand ): I know, Father. Your archaeology
N3: Carnarvon gasps for breath.
team has just made the discovery of the century. Your name will
Herbert: Father?
live forever in history books.
N1: The lights flicker—and go out.
N3: Lord Carnarvon begins to cough. A doctor arrives.
N2: CLAP! Thunder sounds again.
Herbert (quietly): Doctor, what is wrong with him?
N3: The room is dark, save for a sliver of moonlight peeking in
Doctor: I cannot say. This is a very mysterious illness.
through the window.
Herbert: He must get well. Haven’t you heard?
N1: The doctor checks Carnarvon’s pulse.
Doctor: Ah yes, the discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamen. All of
Doctor (to himself ): It seems the curse has claimed its first victim.
Egypt has been speaking of it.
Herbert: Is he . . . ?
Herbert: The treasures inside have been hidden for more than
Doctor: I am so sorry, my lady.
3,000 years.
N2: Neither the doctor nor Lady Evelyn notices the cobra that
Doctor: Forgive me, my lady, but perhaps they should remain
slithers out from under Carnarvon’s bed and disappears into the
hidden.
shadows.
Here is a word that could be used to describe the mood of the scene:
ominous
Now let’s look at what
creates this mood.
©2017 BY SCHOLASTIC INC. TEACHERS MAY PROJECT OR MAKE COPIES OF THIS PAGE TO DISTRIBUTE TO STUDENTS.
Psst!
Ominous
means “feeling like
something bad or
evil will happen;
threatening. ”
PAGE 1 OF 2
Core Skills Workout: Mood-HL
DRAMA: The Curse of King Tut, pages 9–15
February 2017
1. Let’s look at the details the other characters and narrators provide about Lord Carnarvon. We’ve listed
two lines that describe Lord Carnarvon and help create an ominous mood. List two more.
“Carnarvon looks thin and frail in the large bed.”
“But Father, your skin has turned so pale.”
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
2. Complete the sentence below to explain how the details describing Lord Carnarvon help create an
ominous mood.
The details about Lord Carnarvon allow readers to imagine _________________________________________
__________________________________________. This creates an ominous mood because _________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________ .
3. Talking to Lady Evelyn Herbert about the recently discovered treasures, the doctor says, “Forgive me,
my lady, but perhaps they should remain hidden.” Which of the following best describes the tone of the
doctor’s remark?
A. excited
B. worried
C. sarcastic
4. Explain how the doctor’s comment to Lady Evelyn Herbert in Question 3 helps create an ominous mood.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
5. Throughout the scene, the three narrators describe the sights and sounds of the setting. We’ve listed two
lines that describe the setting. List two more.
“The lights flicker—and go out.”
“CLAP! Thunder sounds again.”
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
6. How do the details about the setting help create an ominous mood? Hint: Think about how the mood
would have been different if it had been a warm and sunny day.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
7. Read the last line of Scene 1. How does this sentence help create an ominous mood?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
©2017 BY SCHOLASTIC INC. TEACHERS MAY PROJECT OR MAKE COPIES OF THIS PAGE TO DISTRIBUTE TO STUDENTS.
PAGE 2 OF 2