“Viva La Vida” sung by Coldplay
I used to rule the world
Seas would rise when I gave the word
Now in the morning I sleep alone
Sweep the streets I used to own
I used to roll the dice
Feel the fear in my enemy's eyes
Listen as the crowd would sing
"Now the old king is dead! Long live the king!"
One minute I held the key
Next the walls were closed on me
And I discovered that my castles stand
Upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand
I hear Jerusalem bells are ringing
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field
For some reason I can't explain
Once you're gone there was never
Never an honest word
But that was when I ruled the world
It was the wicked and wild wind
Blew down the doors to let me in
Shattered windows and the sound of drums
People couldn't believe what I'd become
Revolutionaries wait
For my head on a silver plate
Just a puppet on a lonely string
Oh who would ever want to be king?
I hear Jerusalem bells are ringing
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field
For some reason I can't explain
I know Saint Peter won't call my name
Never an honest word
But that was when I ruled the world
Flip the paper over for the rest of the assignment.
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Reading Comprehension Questions
1.
Who is the speaker? ________________________
2.
What emotions do you think the speaker is feeling in this song? (happiness, sadness, regret, confusion, pride, fear,
nostalgia) _______________________________
Why? ______________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
What text evidence is there to support this? ______________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
3.
Detailed comprehension: Classify the following lines from the song into the chart below
I used to rule the world
Seas would rise when I gave the word
Now in the morning I sleep alone
Sweep the streets I used to own
Before (past)
4.
I used to roll the dice
Feel the fear in my enemy's eyes…
One minute I held the key
Next the walls were closed on me
After (present)
What is a theme of the song? _________________________________________________________________
What “text evidence” is there to support the theme? _______________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
5.
Explain the similar theme demonstrated in “Ozymandias” and “Viva La Vida”. Support your answer with evidence from
both selections.
Extra Credit: Think of a famous king or queen from history (or today), or
choose one of these “other” kings:
Burger King
Elvis Presley
(“the king of rock ‘n roll”)
King Kong
Write a poem from the perspective of the king you chose, using the form below:
I used to __________________________________
________ would __________ when ________________________
Now in the morning I ________________________,
_________________ I used to _________________.
I used to _____________________
_________________________________________________
Listen as the crowd would ___________________________.
Now ____________________________________________.
One minute I _____________________________________,
next _____________________________________________.
I discovered that ___________________________________
_________________________________________________.