Exercise 1: Vocabulary
1. Enchanting (adjective):
Definition: Delightfully charming or captivating.
Example: Aurora’s enchanting smile charmed everyone she met.
2. Sorceress (noun):
Definition: A woman who practices sorcery or magic, often with malevolent intent.
Example: Maleficent was a powerful sorceress who sought revenge against the royal family.
3. Spindle (noun):
Definition: A rod or pin used to twist and wind fibers into thread or yarn.
Example: Maleficent’s curse predicted that Aurora would prick her finger on the spindle of a spinning wheel.
4. Eternal (adjective):
Definition: Lasting forever; without an end.
Example: The curse threatened Aurora with eternal sleep.
5. Devastated (adjective):
Definition: Overwhelmed with grief, shock, or extreme sadness.
Example: The king and queen were devastated by the curse placed on their daughter.
6. Secluded (adjective):
Definition: Hidden or isolated from others; private and quiet.
Example: Briar Rose lived a secluded life in a hidden cottage deep in the woods.
7. Dilapidated (adjective):
Definition: In a state of disrepair or ruin due to age or neglect.
Example: The castle Briar Rose discovered was old and dilapidated, with crumbling walls.
8. Foretold (verb):
Definition: Predicted or prophesied in advance.
Example: The curse foretold that Aurora would prick her finger on a spindle and fall into a deep slumber.
9. Awakening (noun):
Definition: The act or process of waking up or being roused from sleep.
Example: The prince’s kiss marked the awakening of Sleeping Beauty.
10. Selfless (adjective):
Definition: Concerned more with the needs and well-being of others than with one’s own; unselfish.
Example: The prince’s selfless act of true love broke the curse and awakened Aurora.
Exercise 2: Story
Once upon a time, in a kingdom far away, there lived a beautiful princess named Aurora. She was known throughout the land for her enchanting smile and her kind heart. But an evil sorceress named Maleficent held a grudge against the royal family and sought revenge.
On Aurora’s sixteenth birthday, the king and queen organized a grand celebration to honor their beloved daughter. The whole kingdom rejoiced, but unbeknownst to them, Maleficent had a wicked plan in store.
During the birthday feast, Maleficent appeared uninvited, wearing a cloak of darkness. She cast a spell on the innocent princess, proclaiming that on her sixteenth birthday, Aurora would prick her finger on the spindle of a spinning wheel and fall into an eternal sleep.
The king and queen, devastated by the curse, sought help from the good fairies who had blessed Aurora at her christening. The fairies, unable to undo the curse entirely, used their magic to soften its effects. Instead of eternal sleep, Aurora would slumber until awakened by true love’s kiss.
To protect their beloved daughter, the king and queen ordered all spinning wheels in the kingdom to be destroyed. They believed that by keeping Aurora away from spinning wheels, they could prevent the curse from coming true.
Years passed, and Aurora grew up under the care of the fairies, ignorant of her true identity and the curse that loomed over her. She was given the name Briar Rose and lived a simple life in a secluded cottage, hidden from the world.
One fateful day, while exploring the woods, Briar Rose came across a dilapidated castle. Intrigued, she ventured inside and discovered an old, hidden room where a spinning wheel lay untouched by time. Curiosity got the better of her, and as she reached out to touch it, the curse took effect. She pricked her finger and fell into a deep slumber.
Just as the curse had foretold, the fairies had discovered the truth and raced to Briar Rose’s side. They placed her on a bed of flowers and cast a protective spell over the castle, ensuring that it would remain hidden until the day she was awakened.
Years passed, and the story of the sleeping beauty spread throughout the kingdom. Many brave princes attempted to reach the castle and wake Briar Rose with true love’s kiss, but none succeeded.
One day, a young prince who had heard the tale of the sleeping beauty arrived at the castle. The fairies, believing him to be the one destined to break the curse, guided him through the enchanted forest and into the chamber where Briar Rose lay.
Overwhelmed by her beauty, the prince leaned in and gently kissed Briar Rose’s lips. In that magical moment, the curse was broken. Aurora opened her eyes, and the prince, filled with joy, declared his love for her.
The kingdom celebrated the awakening of Sleeping Beauty, and Aurora returned to her rightful place as the princess. She and the prince were married, uniting their kingdoms in love and harmony.
And so, the tale of Sleeping Beauty became a legend, a testament to the power of true love and the belief that even the deepest slumber can be broken by a pure and selfless heart.
Exercise 3: Questions
1. Who is the beautiful princess in the story, and what is her alternate name?
2. What curse did the evil sorceress Maleficent cast upon Aurora on her sixteenth birthday?
3. How did Aurora, also known as Briar Rose, end up pricking her finger on the spindle and falling into a deep slumber?
4. What broke the curse and awakened Sleeping Beauty from her slumber?
5. What important theme or lesson can be learned from the story of Sleeping Beauty?
Exercise 4: Discussion
- Who are the main characters?
- What is the moral of the story?
- Do you have a similar story in your culture? How is it the same? How is it different?
- What did you like or dislike about the story?
