“Legend of the Indian Paintbrush”

Name______________________________________ Date_______________________

Answer each of the following questions. Remember to write your answers in complete sentences.

Complete the following character and setting chart.

Main Character

Setting
 

 

 

 

 

  

 

  1. What was the problem at the beginning of the story?

      2. ________________________________________________________________

      ________________________________________________________________

      ________________________________________________________________

       

  2. Why did Little Gopher go off in the hills alone?

a. He was running away from his tribe.
b. He needed to think about becoming a man.
c. He wanted to hunt like the other boys.
d. He wanted to take a long walk.

  1. What did the Old Grandfather tell Little Gopher he would do one day?

      2. a. tell stories
      b. ride horses
      c. paint pictures
      d. hunt buffalo

  2. What two things did the Indian Maiden tell Little Gopher he would need to paint his picture?

      3. ___________________________________________________________

      ___________________________________________________________
  3. What was Little Gopher searching for?

      4. a. paints for the color of the sunset
      b. a special paintbrush
      c. a new dream - vision
      d. larger animal skins to paint on

  4. Little Gopher had a special talent of painting. Describe and tell about a special talent that you have.

      5. ________________________________________________________________

      ________________________________________________________________

      ________________________________________________________________

  5. Little Gopher was given a new name: “He – Who – Brought – the – Sunset – to –Earth.” Why was he given this name?

      6. ________________________________________________________________

      ________________________________________________________________

      ________________________________________________________________

  6. What did Little Gopher discover about himself in this story?

      7. ________________________________________________________________

      ________________________________________________________________

      ________________________________________________________________

  7. The “Indian Paintbrush” is the name of a flower that grows in Texas. How do you think this flower got its name?

      8. ________________________________________________________________

      ________________________________________________________________

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Answer Key

“The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush”

 

 

Main Character: Little Gopher

Setting: village, hills {2}

Little Gopher was smaller than the other boys. He could not keep up with them hunting or playing games. He was very sad about this. {2}

3. B {1}

4. C {1}

5. 1. He needed a white buckskin.

2. He needed the colors of the sunset. {2}

6. A {1}

Answers will vary. {2}

I have a special talent of doing cartwheels and flips.

Little Gopher was given his new name because the picture he painted brought the colors of the sunset to earth and to the people of his tribe. {2}

Little Gopher discovered he had a special talent of painting.

Little Gopher was special for a different reason than others.

Every person may have a different, special talent. {2}

10. When Little Gopher went to the hills the second time, the colors of the sunset had appeared in special brushes along the hill. When he finished his painting, the scattered paintbrushes grew roots and became flowers on the hill. The flowers came from the paintbrushes that the Indian had used…”Indian Paintbrush.” {3}