“Three Skeleton Key”
by George G. Toudouze
Text Dependent Questions
Directions: Answer all of the questions in complete sentences on pages 37-38 of your ISN. Remember to be specific in
your answers and to never start an answer with a pronoun.
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What job did the author take? Why did the author take the job?
What is a key? Why is the story called “Three Skeleton Key? “
What were two reasons the island was dangerous?
Did the man hate his job? Write two sentences that support your claim.
Why didn’t the lighthouse see many ships?
Why is LeGleo afraid of what his boss might think about this derelict ship? What was legendary about this
ship?
Passage Analysis
“And studying the Cornelius de Witt, I turned sick, for her small boats were all in place.”
Who says this?
Where is it and what is happening?
Explain the significance. What does the narrator figure out or infer when he sees the lifeboats (small
boats) are still there?
Create a Compare / Contrast map that emphasizes how the author compares and contrasts normal land rats
with the rats on the ship (ship rats). Use at least five pieces of textual evidence for each.
What happens to the ship? Do the rats drown? What happens to them?
Passage Analysis
“And there we were, sealed alive in our own light, prisoners of a horde of starving rats.”
Who says this?
Where is it and what is happening?
What would you do if you were one of the men in the lighthouse?
What does Itchoua ironically suggest the name of the Island be changed to? Why?
What did the men do that was considered the greatest breach of their service?
What do the men in the patrol boat think when they see the rats on the lighthouse glass? Who in the
lighthouse reacts first? What does he do? Why is this ironic?
What do the rats try to do when they see the patrol boat?
When the rats fall into the sea, what creatures ironically help the men for a second time? What are they
compared to?
Who is the first to react when the ship starts to go away? What does he do? Why is this ironic?
Explain the trap that is set by the tugboat and the fireboat?
What are the fates of LeGleo and Itchoua?
What is ironic about the ending of the story for the narrator?
(For experts) Go back in the story. What nickname do the men give the largest rat? How does this name
foreshadow the end of the story?