Frightful's Mountain by Jean Craighead George Comprehension Questions

He named her Frightful because he thought she was a raving beauty.

He fed her four and five times a day, carried her on his gloved fist, and taught her to fly to his hand.

Frightful thought of Sam as her mother and nurturer. She considered Sam her family, with the memory of her parents pushed far back in her mind.

Frightful's greatest pleasure was hunting with Sam. She demonstrated her skill as a hunter by loving the sky, updrafts, and coiling winds, and by rarely missing her targets when hunting with Sam.

Sam

dog

falcon

a pheasant

a red-tailed hawk

in a tree

Sam's location

Alice and goshawks

Sam

perseverance, skill, and bond with Sam

Sam

Frightful searching for game

peregrine falcon

goshawks

during a hunting trip

a male peregrine falcon

female goshawk

over the Schoharie Valley

in a cloud

the male peregrine falcon

her interaction with the male peregrine falcon

a potential mate

independence and survival instincts

her bond with Sam and her natural instincts as a peregrine falcon

Frightful is a peregrine falcon.

Frightful was taken from her home by two men against Sam's protests.

Frightful was left in a pine forest on a perch.

Frightful remained unharmed due to being tethered.

Alice, Sam's sister, set Frightful free and urged her to fly away.

Alice cut Frightful's jesses and leash.

Frightful soared to the top of a pine tree to survey her surroundings.

Hunger drove Frightful to seek food as a free bird.

The thermal helped Frightful to gain altitude and get a better view of the landscape.

Frightful prioritized hunting for food as her first act of freedom.

The bond with Sam, her training, and the support from Alice are key elements in Frightful's pursuit of freedom.

The story highlights Frightful's journey to regain her freedom and independence after being taken from her home.

large black-brown eyes and ebony black beaks with saffron-yellow nares

Frightful arrives at a cliff above the Schoharie River, which reminds her of her first home and parents

They engage in feather talk to bond

The young peregrine falcons are called eyases, and Chup feeds them

Frightful is not fully aware of her new peregrine habitat due to being used to Sam's mountain habitat

Chup's first mate has disappeared, and Chup is left to care for the chicks

Chup tries to court Frightful to become the new mother for the eyases

Frightful, raised by Sam, is inexperienced in caring for peregrine eyases and observes them curiously

Chup leaves Frightful to care for the eyases and hunt for food, while the eyases grow and become able to keep themselves warm

Frightful gradually learns to understand the eyases' needs and their communication through their movements and sounds, feeding herself and gaining strength

Chup continues to hunt and search for a mate while Frightful cares for the eyases

Frightful gradually learns to understand the eyases' needs and their communication through their movements and sounds, feeding herself and gaining strength

Duchess first experiences flying by flapping and sailing out over the red maples. She then stalls out and falls, landing in a treetop with her wings spread across leaves and twigs. She hangs there for a moment before finding a sturdy limb and standing upright on the tree limb.

After stuffing herself with food and napping, Lady plays with a feather, then a stick. Feeling restless, she stretches her wings and is picked up by the air, flying as well.

After landing in the treetop, Duchess realizes that food, companions, and parents are out of reach, and she must fly to survive.

After awakening from her nap, Lady plays with a feather, then a stick. Feeling restless, she stretches her wings and is picked up by the air, flying as well.

culvert

cold weather

rabbit

migrating by the light of the stars

challenges of nature

hunger

intense emotions

refuge in a culvert

quickly regains composure

companion Mole

hunger

stay

Frightful and Mole

Flying

Woodchuck Lodge

Hanni and Hendrik Van Sandtford

His confidence in finding food sources

The interconnectedness of different characters and their experiences

The characters' behaviors, relationships, and survival instincts

The ongoing connection between the different characters and their experiences in the story

Mole's journey and adaptation to his new environment

The sun's rays and the earth's magnetic field

Upland meadows

The characters' behaviors, relationships, and survival instincts

Duchess, Lady, and Drum

Learning to fly, finding food, and staying warm

Feeding the fledglings

Drum

Frightful's role as a mother, balancing nurturing with allowing independence

The fierce competition and the importance of mastering essential skills for survival

Observing other animals

Staying warm

The natural instinct and the harsh realities of the wilderness as the eyases struggle to become independent and self-sufficient

Learns to fly and lands on a tree

Survival challenges, including learning to fly, finding food, and staying warm

Leave them to their own devices to learn to fly and hunt for food

Duchess experiences her first flight, chased birds, and returned to her aerie for food

Chup helps Lady to survive and eventually become strong and fat

Frightful struggles with the decision to migrate due to environmental signals

Frightful's bird sense urges her to migrate south or face the risk of not finding enough food in the frigid northern winter

The text primarily depicts the challenges and instincts of peregrine falcons during their migration

The story follows the survival and migration journey of several young peregrine falcons

Frightful finally starts her migration south after a light snowfall, covering ten miles before turning back due to hunger

Frightful decides to find Mole's farm, where she was held captive

The window for fall migration is limited, and Frightful risks disaster if she does not migrate in time

Drum grows fat on terns and willets before migrating south

Duchess migrates south, accompanied by cedar waxwings and juncos

Frightful eventually feels the urge to migrate, but returns due to hunger and the desire to find Mole

The students show initiative by writing letters to Mr. Lon Herbert, expressing their concerns about wildlife and the impact of electric poles on birds. They address issues such as bird rights, discrimination against birds, and the need for changes to prevent birds from getting zapped by electric wires.

The students' letters reflect their understanding of civil rights as they argue that birds should have rights too. They express determination to advocate for wildlife by mentioning studying civil rights and expressing their intention to become a bird-defense lawyer in the future.

The students convey a message of concern for the well-being of birds and propose addressing the issue of birds getting zapped by electric wires through suggestions for changing the wires on a transformer to prevent birds, including eagles, owls, hawks, vultures, and blue jays, from getting zapped.

The students' letters demonstrate their empathy and advocacy for wildlife as they express concern for birds' rights and propose actions such as preventing zapping of birds by changing the wires on a transformer and suggesting that birds should be able to sue for the harm caused by electric poles.

the bridge top

the rat she catches

a scrape, a falcon's nest

her loyalty to Sam and her attachment to the bridge

the strong bond between them

her desire to nest and growing sense of contentment

her transition to her new home and natural instincts

in her aerie on the bridge

the bountiful pigeons

a pigeon

Sam, her owner

the rat she catches

Frightful is a peregrine falcon, a species of bird known for its speed and agility in flight.

Jon takes Frightful to a mountain top and sets her free, but she doesn't immediately fly away.

Sam is Frightful's previous owner. He is conflicted about keeping Frightful due to legal restrictions.

Sam decides to let Frightful remain free while still caring for her.

Alice and Mrs. Strawberry are individuals associated with Sam. They engage in hunting squirrels and work on a farm with him.

Frightful takes flight and heads towards a specific mountain, eventually reuniting with Sam.

Frightful listens attentively to Sam's words and appears to understand the emotions conveyed.

Frightful's presence is discovered by Alice, causing her to momentarily fly away before returning.

Frightful flies off but eventually returns, indicating a strong bond with Sam.

Frightful settles on a bridge, showcasing her freedom and ability to thrive in the wild.

The text describes Frightful as well-acquainted with the pigeons and rats in her surroundings and having a keen understanding of their flight patterns.

Frightful's vibrant new feathers indicate that she has healed from her injuries and is in good physical condition.

Jon, Maria, and Susan

Frightful, a peregrine falcon

Hunger

Hunt and kill a rat

Changing utility poles to protect birds

She is in her nuptial plumage

Mr. Lon Herbert

Frightful

She molts

Migratory falcons and hawks

Three linemen

Her ability to survive in the wild

Frightful surveys areas for prey like rats and anticipates an upcoming abundance of young cottontails, planning to prey on them when they compete for food.

Frightful has adapted her hunting habits under the influence of training by Sam and Jon, now targeting pests of humankind instead of her native prey.

Lady's exposure to DDT has adverse effects on her health, with implications for her longevity and reproductive success.

The text showcases Frightful's engagement in a playful aerial interaction with Chup, another falcon, and her observations of Lady's return and eventual departure, potentially reflecting on her own future and the challenges she may face.

The narrative highlights the environmental impact of DDT, particularly on the health and survival of peregrine falcons like Lady.

Frightful's return coincides with the onset of spring, when birds in the area begin to build nests, suggesting a shift in the surrounding environment.

The text provides insights into the behavior and challenges faced by peregrine falcons, including their adaptation to new hunting environments and their interactions with other falcons.

Frightful's adaptation to a new hunting environment and her interactions with other falcons contribute to a rich portrayal of her experiences and behaviors, as well as the broader ecological context in which these events unfold.

The text presents a rich portrayal of Frightful's experiences and behaviors, as well as the broader ecological context in which these events unfold.

Frightful primarily targets pests of humankind, under the influence of training by Sam and Jon, instead of her native prey.

Frightful observes Lady's return and eventual departure, potentially reflecting on her own future and the challenges she may face.

The text provides insights into the challenges faced by peregrine falcons, including the environmental impact of factors like DDT on their health and survival.

Sam

The presence of a peregrine falcon's nest on the bridge has caused a delay in the construction work. The peregrine falcons are an endangered species.

Joe Cassini dismisses the concern and emphasizes that he is not knowledgeable about such matters. This implies a lack of consideration for the protection of the endangered species and their nesting season.

The situation highlights the conflict between the need for infrastructure development and the protection of endangered species and their habitats, raising questions about balancing progress with environmental conservation efforts.

Conservation officer Leon Longbridge and four kids

Sam communicates with Frightful to keep her calm during the loud construction work

The kids consider writing letters to the governor to stop the repairs on the bridge

Sam and Frightful successfully protect the falcon eggs during the construction work

Despite the noise from jackhammers, Frightful, the falcon, stays with her eggs

Sam expresses his feeling of being high up on the bridge and wonders about the experience of flying

The workers take a lunch break, and the bridge becomes quiet

Frightful remains still and undisturbed by Sam's presence

Conservation officer Leon Longbridge and four kids come to the bridge to protect nesting peregrine falcons

The workers on the bridge are scaring the falcons

Leon Longbridge informs the kids about the protection of endangered species by the federal government

feeding Frightful

camouflage and wear a disguise

Joe Cassini and Dan Martin

a lean-to

Sam

the noise of the jackhammers

why they have not been halted

to avoid being seen by the school children and the work crew

Frightful and Sam

Sam

the noise levels from the construction equipment

Frightful's chicks beginning to develop inside the eggs

Jon Wood and Leon Longbridge

Moving them to a box in a sycamore tree by the river

If she will follow them

Plan a parade

Sticks near the nest

The presence of sticks near the nest

Move them

To the big sycamore tree

Whistles to her

A day when he doesn't get back to Frightful until after five

Pouring cement for the pilings

The lack of action to save the falcons

The repair of Delhi Bridge and the potential impact on peregrine falcons

Foreman Joe Cassini

Main Street

Sam Gribley

A spotting scope

Efforts to protect the peregrine falcons

The chicks cheeping

The cement pouring for bridge repair

The peregrine falcons

Traffic disruption and attention from passing cars

The police chief

The hatching of the chicks

Jose's reaction to the letter and his statement reveal his determination and commitment to catching the poachers and rescuing the baby birds. His immediate focus on taking action demonstrates his strong sense of responsibility and his dedication to protecting the environment and wildlife.

Frightful's behavior reflects her strong maternal instincts as she attempts to care for the eyases even in difficult circumstances. Her struggle to find food and nourish her young showcases the challenges faced by mother birds in providing for their offspring.

The interaction between Molly and Jose, along with Frightful's actions, highlights the emotional and environmental impact of the events. It demonstrates the characters' deep concern for the well-being of the baby falcons and the urgency to address the threat to the environment.

The letter and the characters' responses contribute to the development of the environmental conservation theme by emphasizing the importance of protecting wildlife and the environment. They highlight the characters' determination to address the threat to the environment and the significance of their efforts in preserving nature.

Frightful

a red-tailed hawk

the Delhi Bridge

a pigeon

Leon Longbridge

her determination and the potential challenges she faces in her journey to rescue Oksi

falcon and human interaction

a chick named Oksi

a falconer's lure

strikes the nest box and takes off

her nurturing instinct

falconer Perry Knowlton

Sam fixes a hole to prevent food loss and removes Frightful’s jesses.

Molly and Jose aim to find stolen baby falcons at a cave in Beaver Corners where falcon poachers were arrested.

Sam and Mole find a dog named Mole trapped in a hawthorn bush.

Sam cooks a feral chicken for dinner while camping by an abandoned barn.

Frightful captures a pheasant with Mole's help.

Sam and Mole camp by an abandoned barn for the night.

Frightful captures a pheasant with Mole's help.

Mole eventually agrees to accompany Sam on his trip.

Leon Longbridge and the police find nothing in the cave at Beaver Corners.

Sam encounters his old friend Jessie Coon James, a raccoon.

Jessie Coon James steals an ear of corn from Sam.

Jessie Coon James departs through a tunnel after stealing the ear of corn.

Sam uses a stick to track time, estimating that the eyas needs to be fed within three hours.

Oksi was six days old on this day, finding both food and Frightful's warm brood patch.

Alice arrives with wild strawberries, revealing that she has a dog.

The day ends with the sun setting, leaving Sam concerned about the poachers and the missing eyases.

Frightful returns to find the eyas missing, but Sam directs her to the roof of the mill house.

Sam suspects poachers, recalling an encounter with Skri and Bate at Beaver Corners.

Sam disguises himself as a creature with a tanned chicken head to feed Oksi without imprinting on him.

Frightful sits motionless, afraid but pulled to her chick, eventually flying to find food for Oksi.

Sam ponders Bate's potential hideout, worrying about the missing eyases.

Sam Gribley recalls licensed falconers in the area and worries about the poachers.

Frightful searches for her eyas and finds her at the familiar tree where Sam had made a wigwam for Alice.

Sam recalls an encounter with Skri and Bate at Beaver Corners, suspecting poachers and worrying about the missing eyases.

Frightful and her eyas Oksi, and her mate 426 is found dead, replaced by a new male falcon named Chup.

Hanni and Hendrik found the dog, named General by them and Mole by the previous farm owners.

Mole was found near the Helderberg Escarpment and later found at the John Burroughs lodge.

Sam prepares food, and Frightful's mate 426 is found dead and replaced by a new male falcon named Chup.

Alice wants to make a special collar for Mole, and she wants to call him Mole.

Sam encounters the raccoon, and Frightful's mate 426 is found dead and replaced by a new male falcon named Chup.

Mole was found near the lodge, and Sam reveals that the Park Service doesn't own it and there are no rangers there.

Chup becomes Frightful's new mate, and Sam prepares to leave.

General is the name given by Hanni and Hendrik, while Mole is the name used by the previous farm owners. Alice wants to make a special collar for the dog.

Frightful's mate 426 is found dead, and a new male falcon named Chup takes his place. Sam takes care of Frightful and her eyas.

Sam reveals that the Park Service doesn't own the lodge and there are no rangers there. Hanni and Hendrik found the dog Mole.

Sam encounters a raccoon named Jessie Coon James, and Chup becomes Frightful's new mate.

The struggle for survival and independence, natural instincts and adaptations, hunting abilities, and interactions with the environment.

He notices Frightful's unusual behavior and reacts with care and affection.

Screamer falls from a transformer and dies, highlighting the dangers faced by wild falcons.

Valuable insights into their natural behaviors, challenges, and adaptations, offering a compelling portrayal of their struggle for survival and independence in the wild.

The falcons' natural instincts, hunting abilities, and interactions with their environment, emphasizing their struggle for survival and independence.

The challenges faced by captive and wild falcons in adapting to their natural instincts and environments.

The complexities of their natural instincts and adaptations.

Their struggle for survival and independence.

The falcons' behaviors, challenges, and interactions with their environment, shedding light on the complexities of their natural instincts and adaptations.

Their hunting skills and adaptation to their environment.

A detailed account of the falcons' hunting techniques and their interactions with other birds and their environment.

A valuable portrayal of their struggle for survival and independence in the wild.

Oksi's first flight symbolizes her transition from a nestling to a fledgling, marking her entry into the world as a flying member of bird royalty—the family Falconidae. It also highlights her growing independence and curiosity about the world around her.

Frightful's primary duty after Oksi's first flight is to provide food until Oksi is able to catch her own. This shows Frightful's role as a provider and protector for Oksi during her early stages of independence.

The text depicts Oksi's evolving emotions and behavior after her first flight by showing her initial frustration at not being able to fly freely, followed by curiosity and excitement as she explores and observes the world around her. Her eventual tiredness and need for rest further highlight her transition from a nestling to a fledgling.

After Oksi's first flight, Frightful continues to play a crucial role in Oksi's development by monitoring and providing for her, ensuring her safety, and guiding her in the early stages of her independent flight. This demonstrates Frightful's nurturing and protective instincts as a parent figure to Oksi.

Frightful

church tower in Plymouth, North Carolina

Drum

Cape Hatteras, North Carolina

DDT and pesticides

using her internal compass and environmental cues

undertaking a challenging and perilous migratory journey

oil their feathers and rest

the behavior and challenges faced by peregrine falcons during their long-distance migrations

church tower in Plymouth, North Carolina

Drum

a rare and thrilling event due to the past adverse effects on the peregrine falcon population

Bando rushes back to the hospital.

Bando names the girl Samantha after Zella.

Bando hurries off to the mill house to pick up a surprise for Zella and Samantha.

Oksi, a friend of the forest, leaves, and Sam whispers to himself that he has a new friend named Samantha.

Perry Knowlton is feeding Blue Bill and Screamer at the hack board, a food platform on stilts, to prepare them for independence.

Blue Bill fails to fly to the hack board, and Perry worries about his ability to set him free due to his strong imprint on people.

Perry decides not to release Blue Bill immediately due to the bald eagle attack and his strong imprint on people.

Maria expresses happiness at the prospect of being able to visit Blue Bill often if he cannot be set free.

Perry smiles and opens the barn door, indicating that the situation has been resolved for the moment.

The changing environmental cues and the natural instinct for migration in birds.

Oksi is a falcon who also feels the pull of migration and joins the North American bird migration.

The story highlights the tension between human desires for companionship and the natural instincts of wild animals.

Frightful's conflicted feelings about migrating are depicted through her actions and restlessness.

Sam and Alice discuss the reasons behind bird migration, primarily related to food supply.

Frightful eventually takes a bearing on the sun's rays to prepare to migrate southward.

The text depicts Frightful's emotional conflict and the natural instinct for migration in birds.

The story highlights the natural instinct for migration in peregrine falcons.

Sam is deeply saddened by Frightful's decision to leave and chooses not to feed her to encourage migration.

Sam and Alice observe Frightful's southward concentration, indicating her decision to migrate.

The central theme regarding the peregrine falcons in the narrative is the natural instinct for migration and the tension between human desires and wild animal instincts.

The narration primarily describes the migration of various bird species due to changing environmental cues.

A tidal wave six feet high roared across the marsh, caused by seawater lifted up into the center of the hurricane by the low pressure.

Drum beats his wet wings and is carried low over the marshland, eventually crashing into a hill of groundsel bushes and wedging his way into their dense center, then climbing away from the rising water.

A tidal wave six feet high roars across the marsh, hitting the base of Drum’s tree and forcing him to fly.

Drum sits still and waits, experiencing an all-encompassing silence as the eye of the storm passes through Plymouth.

Sam

Frightful staying and raising eyases

the hacking porch

excitement and hope

Frightful

The male peregrine falcon

In the forest

Food

Sea lions, iguanas, and other unique wildlife

Fear of predators

Blue-footed boobies and Galapagos penguins

Impending rain

Their behavior

With the help of a bird club

Drum, a duck

Different bird species

The urge to migrate

In a cave on an island

Her internal compass

Darwin Island

Her reliance on internal homing instincts and the challenges of her long migration

Frightful's interaction with diverse wildlife and the natural environment

The incredible navigational abilities and resilience of migratory birds

Frightful's migration route, illustrating her determination and adaptability

Humans due to their isolation from people for a million years

She glides and soars

Galapagos hawks

Putting on fat before continuing her journey

She navigates using the sun's rays and magnetic pull of the earth

She meets Drum, another bird, and they travel together

She stops in various locations including Cocos Island, the Isthmus of Panama, and Barro Colorado Island

Frightful arrives home in the snowy mountain, recognizing her nest box and familiar objects

Drum urges Frightful to follow him, but she chooses to stay with Sam

Frightful reunites with Sam and Mole, but misses Sam's call as she is out of earshot

She indulges in hunting and feeding on pigeons

Frightful is spotted by Molly, who excitedly announces her return to the community

Her presence is confirmed by Leon Longbridge, and the community is thrilled by Frightful's return to Delhi

It showcases Frightful's resilience and instincts as she recognizes familiar landmarks and navigates home

She navigates using the sun's rays and magnetic pull of the earth, and she recognizes her nest box and familiar objects upon arriving home

She chooses to stay with Sam and indulges in hunting and feeding on pigeons