2/22/23, 9:37 PM
A Poetry Contest at Spellzany Castle by Maggie Murphy | CommonLit | Teacher Guide
ANSWER KEY
2019
How does the castle get its interesting name?
20
The jesters persuade the queen to change its name.
Mary suggests the name after one of her visits.
A prankster changes the castle's name.
It attracts crazy magic spells.
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RL.4.3
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1.
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by Maggie Murphy
> A Poetry Contest at Spellzany Castle
2. Which quote best explains why the fairy loses the poetry contest?
RL.4.1
A. "'You love poetry, so I knew you'd want to see me present my Royal Rhyming Poem
Contest prize.'" (Paragraph 3)
B. "'So my wonderful poem didn't win your contest?' the fairy screeched at Ursula."
(Paragraph 11)
C. "'The honored poem was judged first-rate; this fairy's poem is not that great.'"
(Paragraph 15)
D. "She landed triumphantly before Ursula, who delivered a brief but lively speech: 'Feast
your eyes; here's your prize!'"(Paragraph 19)
3.
The fairy can best be described as —
A.
B.
C.
D.
artistic.
jealous.
lonely.
satisfied.
4. Which TWO statements best describe the main themes of the story?
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
5.
RL.4.3
RL.4.2
Do not enter contests you know you will not win.
It is okay to get back at people who made you upset.
It is more important to win than it is to make friends.
Be kind to others even when they are not kind to you.
Accept the results of a contest, even if they are not what you want.
How does Mary solve the main problem in the story?
RL.4.1
RL.4.3
Answers will vary. Students should explain that Mary helps break the rhyming
spell by coming up with a clever way to trick the fairy. In the beginning of the story, the fairy
realizes she does not win the poetry contest and casts a rhyming spell on the kingdom
because she is upset and jealous: "'Fine! I hope you do see the talent in my stuck-in-rhymeforever spell.' And waving her wand at the startled company, she shouted, 'Rhyme All-time!'"
(Paragraph 11). Once the spell is cast, everyone in the castle can only speak in rhymes. Mary
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2/22/23, 9:37 PM
A Poetry Contest at Spellzany Castle by Maggie Murphy | CommonLit | Teacher Guide
knows that the only way the spell will be broken is if she uses the fairy's wand, so she and the
Queen come up with a plan to trick her. As part of the trick, Queen Ursula invites the fairy
back to the castle claiming she won the poetry contest after all. Mary steals the Fairy's wand
and casts the same rhyming spell on the fairy: "'So this is my lot — I'm caught by your plot!'
screamed the fairy" (Paragraph 20). In the end, the fairy realizes that it is better to do the
right thing, undo her spell, and accept that she is not the winner of the poetry contest. Mary
is considerate and invites the fairy to stay and enjoy the party: "In spite of everything, Mary
felt sorry for her" (Paragraph 23). This shows how Mary cleverly and successfully helps solve
the problem and break the rhyming spell at Spellzany Castle.
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