My shadow
Passage Activities:

Words: 101-200

Skills: Context Clues Rhythm & Rhyme Theme

Grades: 1st 2nd 3rd

Topics: Realistic Fiction

Genres: Poetry

Lexile Range: —

Lexile Measure: —

CCSS: Reading: Literature

Themes: —

My Shadow

by Robert Louis Stevenson from A Child’s Garden of Verses

This delightful poem by Robert Louis Stevenson was published in “A Child’s Garden of Verses” in 1885. After reading the poem, students will respond to questions on the language and the theme.

Reading Comprehension Passage

My Shadow

by Robert Louis Stevenson from A Child’s Garden of Verses

I have a little shadow that goes in and out with me,
And what can be the use of him is more than I can see.
He is very, very like me from the heels up to the head;
And I see him jump before me, when I jump into my bed.

The funniest thing about him is the way he likes to grow—
Not at all like proper children, which is always very slow;
For he sometimes shoots up taller like an india-rubber ball,
And he sometimes gets so little that there's none of him at all.

He hasn't got a notion of how children ought to play,
And can only make a fool of me in every sort of way.
He stays so close beside me, he's a coward you can see;
I'd think shame to stick to nursie as that shadow sticks to me!



Passage Only

Register Free

Reading Comprehension Questions

1. Why makes the shadow grow tall sometimes and little sometimes?



2. What does “nursie” mean?



3. Find two words in the poem that rhyme.



4. Do you think the shadow is a coward? Why or why not?


Register Free

Vocabulary List

Vocabulary List

Each of the vocabulary words below are used in the reading passage. As you read the passage, pay attention to context clues that suggest the word’s meaning.

1. Funniest

2. Shoots

3. Little

4. Notion

5. Fool

6. Coward

Context Clues

Context Clues

Using context clues from the sentences in the passage, underline the correct meaning of the word in boldface.


1. “The funniest thing about him is the way he likes to grow—“

a. most unusual      b. most surprising       c. most confusing       d. most worrisome


2. “For he sometimes shoots up taller like an india-rubber ball…”

a. aims      b. points      c. grows      d. pretends


3. “And he sometimes gets so little that there's none of him at all.”

a. tiny      b. invisible      c. weak      d. light


4. “He hasn't got a notion of how children ought to play…”

a. rule       b. book      c. idea       d. guide


5. “And can only make a fool of me in every sort of way.”

a. king       b. clown      c. picture       d. story


6. “He stays so close beside me, he's a coward you can see…”

a. weak person       b. fearful person       c. silly person       d. smart person