The Princess and the Pea
by Hans Christian Andersen from Hans Andersen's Fairy Tales, Second Series
Can a princess really feel a pea under a mountain of mattresses? This is the premise of Hans Christian Andersen’s tongue-in-cheek fairy tale “The Princess and the Pea.” Students will read the passage and respond to questions on the language and the theme of the story.
Reading Comprehension Passage
The Princess and the Pea
by Hans Christian Andersen from Hans Andersen's Fairy Tales, Second Series
Reading Comprehension Questions
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.
- satisfactory
- sacking
- miserably
- dreadful
- curiosities
Context Clues
Context Clues
Using context clues from the sentences in the passage, underline the correct meaning of the word in boldface.
1. “there was always something not quite satisfactory”
a. smelling nice; perfumed b. tasty; delicious c. good or acceptable d. beautiful or pretty
2. “then laid a pea on the sacking of the bedstead”
a. wood posts b. goose feathers c. soft pillows d. coarse material for coverings
3. “Oh, most miserably!" she said”
a. poorly or badly b. deeply or soundly c. quietly; silently d. warmly; feverishly
4. “It is dreadful”
a. awful; terrible b. unusual; not normal c. ugly; not pretty d. colorful; bright
5. “the pea was preserved in the cabinet of curiosities”
a. jewels or gems b. odd things; unusual items c. vegetables d. bedding; blankets