Study Guide: Old Sultan’s Clever Trick

This study guide provides a comprehensive review of the narrative "Old Sultan’s Clever Trick." It explores themes of loyalty, the dynamics of friendship, and the use of wit to overcome physical limitations. The story follows an aging dog named Sultan who, facing abandonment by his master, navigates a complex series of events involving a clever wolf and a three-legged cat to secure his place in the household.

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Short-Answer Quiz

Instructions: Answer the following questions based on the story. Each answer should be approximately two to three sentences long.

1. Why does the shepherd initially decide that Sultan must be put down?
2. What plan does the wolf propose to help Sultan regain his master’s favor?
3. How does the shepherd’s treatment of Sultan change after the baby is "rescued"?
4. Why does a conflict arise between Sultan and the wolf after the baby incident?
5. How does Sultan protect his master’s property when the wolf attempts to steal a sheep?
6. Describe the companion Sultan brings to the fight against the wolf.
7. What misconceptions do the wolf and the boar have when they see Sultan's companion approaching?
8. How does the boar’s twitching ear lead to the resolution of the fight?
9. Where does the wolf hide during the final confrontation, and how is he discovered?
10. What is the final agreement reached between Sultan and the wolf at the end of the story?

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Answer Key

1. Why does the shepherd initially decide that Sultan must be put down? The shepherd believes that Sultan is no longer useful because he has grown old and has lost all of his teeth. Consequently, the master tells his wife that the dog is "no good anymore" and plans to get rid of him the following day.
2. What plan does the wolf propose to help Sultan regain his master’s favor? The wolf suggests a staged kidnapping where he will pretend to snatch the master’s baby while the family is in the field. Sultan is instructed to "rescue" the child, making him appear as a hero in the eyes of his master.
3. How does the shepherd’s treatment of Sultan change after the baby is "rescued"? Following the rescue, the shepherd and his wife cheer for Sultan and promise that he will be loved forever. They improve his quality of life by providing him with a soft cushion and "yummy" food.
4. Why does a conflict arise between Sultan and the wolf after the baby incident? The wolf believes that because he helped Sultan, he is entitled to a favor in return, specifically wanting to steal a sheep. Sultan refuses to allow this, stating that he will never betray his master's trust.
5. How does Sultan protect his master’s property when the wolf attempts to steal a sheep? Knowing the wolf’s intentions, Sultan warns the shepherd about the impending theft. When the wolf sneaks into the barn that night, the shepherd is waiting and scares him off with a "whack."
6. Describe the companion Sultan brings to the fight against the wolf. Sultan is accompanied by his only friend, the shepherd’s old three-legged cat. The cat is described as hobbling alongside Sultan with her tail poking straight up into the air.
7. What misconceptions do the wolf and the boar have when they see Sultan's companion approaching? The wolf and the boar mistake the cat's upright tail for a sword and her limping movements for the act of picking up rocks to throw. These misunderstandings cause the wolf and the boar to panic and hide.
8. How does the boar’s twitching ear lead to the resolution of the fight? The cat mistakes the boar’s twitching ear for a mouse and pounces on it. This causes the terrified boar to flee and reveal the wolf’s hiding spot, which ends the physical threat.
9. Where does the wolf hide during the final confrontation, and how is he discovered? The wolf hides up in a tree to escape Sultan and the cat. He is discovered when the fleeing boar squeals out his location to the dog and the cat.
10. What is the final agreement reached between Sultan and the wolf at the end of the story? After feeling embarrassed by the situation, the wolf promises to be friends with Sultan again. Most importantly, he pledges that he will never again attempt to mess with Sultan’s sheep.

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Essay Questions

Instructions: Use the narrative context to develop detailed responses for the following prompts.

1. The Nature of Loyalty: Analyze the moral of the story: "Loyalty may grow old, but it never grows weak." How does Sultan demonstrate this principle even when faced with the threat of death from his master?
2. Deception vs. Integrity: Sultan uses deception to save his life but refuses to use it to betray his master. Discuss the ethical boundaries Sultan sets for himself throughout the narrative.
3. The Role of Perspective: The climax of the story relies heavily on the wolf and the boar misinterpreting the appearance of the three-legged cat. Explain how these misunderstandings reflect the characters' fears and how they drive the plot toward a peaceful resolution.
4. Utility vs. Compassion: Compare the shepherd’s initial view of Sultan’s value with his view at the end of the story. Does the shepherd’s character truly change, or is his love for Sultan still based entirely on the dog's perceived usefulness?
5. Dynamics of Friendship: Examine the relationship between Sultan and the wolf. How does their bond shift from friendship to rivalry and back to friendship? What does this suggest about the necessity of boundaries in a relationship?

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Glossary of Key Terms

• Betray: To be disloyal to someone or to break a trust, such as when the wolf asks Sultan to let him steal a sheep.
• Boar: A wild pig; in this story, the boar serves as the wolf’s sidekick during the challenged fight.
• Clever: Mentally quick or resourceful; used to describe both the wolf’s initial plan and Sultan's overall handling of his situation.
• Loyal: Giving or showing firm and constant support or allegiance to a person or institution.
• Moral: The lesson or message taught by a story, which in this case focuses on the enduring nature of loyalty.
• Sidekick: A person (or animal) who helps another more important person; specifically refers to the wild boar helping the wolf.
• Sultan: The protagonist of the story; an old, toothless dog who must prove his worth to his master.
• Traitor: A person who betrays a friend, country, or principle; the wolf calls Sultan this after Sultan warns the shepherd of the wolf's plan.
• Whack: A sharp, forceful blow; the sound and action of the shepherd striking the wolf in the barn.
• Wild Boar: (See Boar) The animal that accompanies the wolf to the fight and eventually reveals the wolf's hiding place.