Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH

66 Pages·2011·1.66 MB·English

Hook Suramar Mes. Brisng onal set ats of NIMEE

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH

by Robert CO’ Bricn
(ESA sacmiblen, 1971
availabe in Canada awd UR: Maxwell Macmatlem; Ais Mactaitlan

Ars Bisby: afield mouse and willow lives with her four chikdren, Cynthia, Martin, Theses, and
Tiraothy, it an oval vindet block on Mic Ficagibbur's fam, Itis a sfaghify damaged ciwler hlewk, lied
wath leaves, prams. vation, feathers, auld other Uhings the: mice esllet or comfort

Atthe end of wister, Mr. Frisby an er citron ate facod with a recvihle lemma. Timothy’ is very
ill with pneursonia mud che seater is swarming, When the weather wire, Furr Bitzpinben plows
his fits anal Vins, Frishy’s butse is fa the aiet Irae of the plow. She and her famicy will have‘
move belo: the farmer begins to plos, thoreby sleeping outside anti rhey find somewhere else Live.
The probiese is eat Fuucolhy canal slocp oucande in he chilly nighis gecwse ot tae pucemmenia,

Mir. Frishy docs not know what tp do. On the recommendation ef Mir Ages, sae gees te ake the wine
sl, The oe] is anaoved to see Mrs. Fristy until he Ieacas of her identi, ane wieow of Jonathan
Frisby. fle chen sugqests lo Her Uta she vinct the ents, She dees sa

First, Mrs. Erisby meets 6 hostile st, Hroms, who seluses te ‘et ber eater the rms! quarters. ‘Then, she
encounters Kicedeints, another ral and sh the deus af ser husband's life and des
eonnecton to the ats. She ulse lees that the rets are planning. mae to"Theta Valley, a place ith
ron nf the conveniences of usr preseut howe Lat here Huy will mor have to stat enn othr 1
Nicodemus agroes 1 kelp Virs. Verb: ue ies thes’ masr put the cat, Dragon ro sleep so Cary eur
‘work withoce intesfecenee “rom him. Mes, Hrisby aglees ts pul slecping powder ue bis boa. As she
dows so, sb is capraed li Billy, she Kitygabbou's son, As his captive, sie leans valuable inforiali
That ill Fator wkd due uals. Wid Hie help of the rats she escapes Fit FA's

Sry’ the crew cake to see the owl rater chau the rcs
Ms. Hrishy solve her
ssl ever target

‘The situation tens woside down when fe
is necessary to complete the work. Hos the tughly smselligent sats of NIMTT he
itera, and the groal scivive she reece them return, ck an advenone i

925 Tans Cra Mara, te eT PS Mi, Feat he sof ANH
se

se

se

"About the

Jul: Lesiie Camly sat Ine ssenlongar Koen!
O'Brien when he wrole Bers, Frisby aed le Ra a
NEVE. He was tore in 9LS, He mot and nsirried
iy MeCasn sul vere choy bal Aur chileren

m3, {Tis saree

Me Conaly Soyan Ins viting ear
ine ued sect as an elitr for Novo
vehove se Rogan working 195 1,a staph svrites for
Newsweek, a igaoens min Taw The Woshia.gton ss
Hes ud an eit far Pa

Wr, 07 Brien was aardea sacs hunts including
the Lessig Call Shelf Arsarl mt 1972 ue Newbery
Medal in 1972, tie Notional Book Award (ranaer 9p)
in 1972, the Mark (vemn avail 1934. che Vauific
Nocthweet Library Assertion Yousye Reader's Chukar
svar i 1974, abd the Wilinry Allan Wate
Chilshen's Book Award in 1974, all fun Stes Heisly
dnd the Rise f NOB. He received tan amas or Z
for Zachacial ny Wt ane ITT

When he way very younp, Mi. Conly began ctvating
finaginaey worlds. Bis Rewheus Aveard tesepree

speeds, is reveals how be ame «tite Ais. Frashy
land he Rate of NOMI Te explained chat alton Ve
evant WE-teg ths hovtk is Nuvenuber 4b) "we hed any
Finished ceo campters by Marelt L968, He could not wareanher the inci appearance of Mes. Brishy i
Tis thougtts, Abou wrring stoves be sal “They are cather Like plants. You pir a seed undlerpround,
‘You coms Back # few says fale ad finel sim stalk gos”

Aw Me Conly recalls some a the veading bs bad done bafore ke sauce the beck. es com inst he ws
ery preogonpicd sith re hanna sce dostmying itselt. He womelacd whe would suevive sf tomas
‘anished thom the carth, Whul kind of civltzetion rnght fulins’ ours? Ele teealled reading a essay
that bean waploriag the ies af whol the World would be lke if there weve a cat eiviization, Woskng
vil he idea of at eavila.ioe, Mi, Ganly eae a stop Zerther. He developed the idea ofa rt
creiligatun, He thought 1 sormkel like a sather gcaa idea, tut sce It stated srring, “the cate 100%
‘lange and turned out we be mach samen aad plensan huss to he, “Tas, he
‘crletal the finivaed product wi: kupw, todas.

Me, Conly alfred that he Javed in tite chilen’s hooks bea
hints” bs basaks wake Ue ceadung all the wre deighatul, Cafoscunately, Mr. Couty'ssvitiny sas
brought a1 halt or Mauch $, 1973, ben je died ul 2 heaet cack ia Washingn, THC, Thoweven be
octane 29 i publisfed andl soosie avnlspesthursly

use Tas geal fe ire

ya eof BAD ’ A 25 Tinohey Coea Maea tne
Mrs. Frisby SS es
skit pace > pial Ye “a >
Rats of mC cea Sah Wo

Writing Fantasy Neane

Robert C, O'firien is u highly imayinative writer of children’s novels,
By teaming his vivid imagination with his abit to write engaging sto-
Hes, O'Brien has earned awards for excellence in children's literature,
In 1972, his novel Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH wan both the
Newbery Medal and the Lewis Carroll Shelf Award,

When he began to plan Mrs. Frishy andl the Rats of NIMH, O'Brien,
chose ta develop his story Tine usbyg a type of lucralure calied fantasy.
A play or story that is full of imagination and quite unreal, tike Peter
Pun, Is termed “fantasy.” In order to write fantasy well, a wrller anit
Arst conceive an Ides that will so involve his or her readers in the story
that. for a while at Ieast, they accept the fantasy world as one that 1s
meaningful. one that makes sense. Ifthe author were to reach a point
where (ie fantasy becosnes bizarre, then his ereation would crumble,
and it would no longer be believable to readers. With total mastery af
the writing craft, Robert C.0'Brien makes the magte of his fantasy world
Seem very real 6 hls readers

Initlatly, readers must aecept the sdea that animals, such as mice.
rats, and crows, can commmunicale with each oler and work together to
solve their problems. in his novel, O'Brien has chasen a group of rats
as the unttkely herves of hts story. Only a masterful storyteller could
cunvinge readers Qual rats are the “goo guys,” yel O'Brien does just
Ghat in this classic story.

Not only does O'Brien tell an engaging story, but he also raises his
readers’ social awareness. Young readers learn the dangers of excessive
(echnulugy. Also, they learn about the iunperlance of elhies in our Lech-
nological age. in‘O'Brien’s limtasy world, the herocs always emon-
strate a heightened sense of responsibility to thelr communty.

Directions: After carefully reading the above article, match the tenng on the Iefl with the
pphruses on dhe right, Place the eurveet letter ont each fine.

| Robert C. O'Brien A. an Imaginative story that is quite: wneeat
2, Newbery Medal B, concem about problems lacing society
3, imagination ©. autthor of irs, Prisby andl the Rats of NIM
4. fantasy , antmats that communicate tn a fantasy

5. mer, cats, and crows E, yearly award given for execllent childrens’ terature

6. social awareness (6 nules of right and wrong behavior

Felhies G, madang up an idea In one's mind
Galles Foo ands aesCHREE
Mrs. Prisby S$ > >
vest RD are < fy
Pais neni Sek. ye

Multiple Chole
Directions:
‘ciele the leter ofthe

correct answer,

va

x

Murs. Feisby's winter hore was...
A. atunnel under Mr. Fitygibbon's garden.
B, ahollow cinder bieck.
C. ahollowed-out (ree stump.

Mrs. Prishy fell that (he animal who had abandoned his
winter starehouse had,

A, oven fulled by a larger animal.
1B. moved to a better hoene.
C. been shol by a hunter.

‘The rst time Mr. Ages had treated Timothy, he had.
A. almost drowned ina river,
1B, boon bitten or stung by something, poisonous.
C. golten preumonia.

After leaving Mir. Ages’ home, Mrs. risby decided to..
A. walk home thraugh the woods.
B. take the straight route across the farmyard.
C. try to find a way to avoid Dragon.

(On ber way home (ror Mr, Ages’ house, Mrs, Frisby saw a
crow who.

A. was injured and unable to Oy,
B. had gotten one of tis legs caught in a fence,
C, was entangled ina piece of sfiver-eolored string.

Jeremy promised Mos, Frisby that he would...
A. help her whenever she would ask,
1B. stop by ta checle on Timothy's health,
C. give her free rides whenever she wanted.
eS PSE LEN

Mrs. Frisby > f

test ae ye Eo >, at \~
Rats of NIMH CS > \ ~ (|

Name

chapters 1-5. Page 2

Fr cd mice that lived tn yarddens during the winter, ke
Mrs. Frisby, had to Move W...
‘A. barn lofts during the summer.
iB eaves andl attics during the summer.
©. fields that were not used for susnmer crops

fa. tins, Fishy learned that Mr. Fitzgbhon would not been
plowing for five days because.
"A. the wearhes was not warn enough:
1B. che part for the tractor would raice five days to come
into Henderson's store.
C. he needed ty work on the arm

4. Dragon surprised Mrs, Frisby when she came out Ieee her
‘anothole hiding place because Be.
'A, was ready Ww pounce on her.
aR 8. didn’t evert see her.
C. didn't take Une trouble to gat up and chase Her

40. tn addition to Dragon. another vty that disturbed MF®
Frisby was...
‘A. Timothy's miraculous recovery.
B. acoluian of rate hauling pieces of outdoor wiry,
©, a colwnn of rats marching by Dragon.

ed teMlows vigorous mMogieal
rections:
hypochoudriac apt respite
fi athe Baie wt
a relentlessly ubjously labyrtously
subdued

quict; not as active as swab

ina doubling or uncertain anne

for others
‘tind Psy adie tv

harshly: ina mamer showing no pty

s
Chapters 1.5, vase a

Mrs. Frishy
jand the

yo ~

y yoo
5 3S

Rats of NIMHE Cs3 Sa

nde 1.7 oothy Nas t3 and sisters,
oe ae
that

Mit

Zi - eo

:

See

RVR. eee

Wee

ape an a _—-.. wen _
anthor's story has merit If dhe characters arc bellevable. envag:
ing, and well developed. ‘The settingls} must be accurdtely 4
seriherl so that the reader can create a mental plewure of it in his
or her osm mind. Specific etwils are vitul m the cevelapment of
Arnarvative; details make the story “come alive" for the realer.

4
Mes. Frisby 9) 88 ES ea
skiLL pace PRMSIS ‘a a an nt an
Rats of NIMH ts SY [a
Elements of a Narrative

When an author creates a novel, a movie, o¥ a television 4
script. He or she must carefully plaa a story which inckudes 4
Uwe basie clements: characters, setting, and plot. Simply |
stated, somebody bas to be somewhere doing something, The /
|

Tossibly the most complex narrative elements the plol, Te
leyelop the plot, the author must ourefidly plan a sequence of
eveitts which will hold the reader's or viewer's interest Usrougt-
aut the book, muvie, or TV show. The author must concentrale
ou only the important aspects of the story so that It doesn't drag
ou endlessly. Add:tionally. the events must present a problem
swhieh the central character must reselve—eilher happlly or
unhappily.

Throughout the Introductory chapters oF scenes, the author
must make the elements of characters, setting, and plot dear lof
the ceader o viewer. Using the introductory chapters as &

guide, complete the following “Elements of a Narrarive Outline

from Mrs. Prisby anel (hie Rats of NIMH.

Mrs. Frishy Ss _N Pa SS

andes Ye OS RLS

Rats of NIMHE ck Sh Qe
Elements of a Narrative Outline ee

Directs: Aaalyze the tive baste ements ofa narrative fous your reading thas far
MS Psi cat te Bars of NEY. Corplete the fallang vate lv sour maar

Main Chorscter (somebody) Desertbe the mouse introduced fy the fire chapter

& AL _ 7

S

1% po
rs o _
le

Sctling fsonaatere) Desorthe the setting where the story unfolda
AWhere:
2. When; _ _ -

Plot something) From your reavling wo far, describe how the plot (ava

series of events) has be develaper!
AL _
B. _
co .
b _

2 Alsaem ites Fratton