T e a c h e r’s n o t e s

Black Beauty
by Anna Sewell

S U M M A R Y

Published in 1877, Black Beauty is one of literature’s best-loved classics and is the only book that Anna Sewell ever wrote. Four films of the book have been made, the most recent in 1994.

In the book, Black Beauty, a horse, tells the story of his life in his own words. It is a story of how he was treated with kindness and love when he was young, but how his treatment changed at the hands of different owners: some were kind and cared for him properly, but others were careless or unkind, and this led to illness and injury. Black Beauty spent his young life with his mother on Farmer Grey’s farm. Farmer Grey was a good, kind man and the horses had a good life. His mother told him that not all people were good and she gave him some advice: Always be good so people will love you. Always work hard and do your best. Black Beauty tried to follow this advice all his life.

First, he goes to live with Mr Gordon and his family, who treat their horses well. He becomes friends with two other horses, Merrylegs and Ginger. He is cared for by a groom called John, who never uses a whip. Black Beauty saves Mrs Gordon’s life when he runs very fast to bring the doctor to her. He becomes ill himself because a new groom doesn’t look after him properly.

The Gordons move abroad and Black Beauty and Ginger are sold to Lord Westland at Earl’s Hall. They have a good groom, but Lady Westland is unkind and makes the horses wear bearing reins so that they hold their heads up high. One day, a groom called Reuben Smith is left in charge of the horses. He is drunk and ndes Black Beauty very hard and uses a whip. Black Beauty loses a shoe and eventually falls. Smith is killed in the accident and Black Beauty’s legs are badly cut. He survives but his legs are scarred and Lord Westland decides to sell him.

Black Beauty’s next home is with a London cab driver, Jerry Barker. Jerry and his family treat Black Beauty very well, but the work is hard and the hours are long. Jerry becomes ill and has to sell Black Beauty to a farmer, who promises to look after him and find him a good home. The farmer takes him to some women at Rose Hall. There, Black Beauty is reunited with a young groom who used to look after him at Mr Gordon’s home. The women want to keep Black Beauty, so once again he has a kind and happy home.
A B O U T A N N A S E W E L L

Anna Sewell was born on March 30, 1820 in Yarmouth, Norfolk, England. Her father was a bank manager and her mother was a well-known and popular writer of books for young people. The family were Quakers and stro n g l y believed that they should show love for all and compassion
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for those in less fortunate circumstances. This also included the animals that shared their lives. In Victorian England, horses were used in industry, and were often treated badly. Anna and her mother were appalled if they saw a horse being mistreated and often showed their disapproval to the horse’s owner.

When she was fourteen, Anna suffered a fall in which she injured her knee. This never healed and left her unable to walk without the help of a crutch. Over the following years, she became increasingly disabled. However, she learnt to drive a horse-drawn carriage and took great pleasure in taking her father to and from the station on his way to work. She was a very skilled driver and was known for her ability to control the horses by the sound of her voice alone. She often drove with a very loose rein and never used a whip.

Anna was very concerned about the humane treatment of animals and her Quaker beliefs meant that she was opposed to tormenting animals for pleasure and to hunting for sport. After reading an essay on animals by Horace Bushnell (a leading American theologian), Anna declared that she wished ‘to induce kindness, sympathy, and an understanding treatment of horses’.

Sewell’s introduction to writing began in her youth when she helped to edit her mother’s books. During the last seven or eight years of her life, Sewell was confined to her house due to her failing health. She spent this time writing Black Beauty, a fictional autobiography of a gentle horse, which drew on all her memories of the abusive treatment she had seen. The book gave readers a unique insight into equine life. The character of Beauty was based on her brother’s horse, Bessie, and Merrylegs was based on Sewell’s own muchloved grey pony. Although the book only earned Sewell twenty pounds at the time it was published, it was instrumental in abolishing the cruel practice of using the bearing rein. It had a strong moral purpose and highlighted the need for a more humane approach in the treatment of animals. Unfort u n a t e l y, Sewell never saw the eventual success of her book. She died on April 25, 1878, only a year after Black Beauty was published. Ironically, at Sewell’s funeral her mother noticed that all the horses in the funeral procession were wearing bearing reins and she insisted that they be removed.

Today some critics think that Black Beauty is too sentimental, but it has sold over thirty million copies since it was published and is a favourite with animal lovers.

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ELEMENTARY
B A C K G R O U N D A N D T H E M E S
Society was unequal in nineteenth century England, and

T e a c h e r’s n o t e s

great poverty existed alongside the wealth of the aristocracy and the middle classes. The Industrial Revolution led to the growth of towns and cities as the rural population moved into urban slums to work in the factories and mills owned by wealthy families. The horse played a vital role at this time. Horses worked in coalmines, pulled barges along canals, ploughed fields and also provided transportation.

However, the horses were often mistreated. They were beaten by their owners and made to pull over- l o a d e d wagons. Many died of exhaustion where they stood in their h a rnesses. There were also some very cruel fashions, including the ‘docking’ (cutting short) of the horse’s tail to improve its appearance. This was extremely painful for the horse and prevented them from swatting flies away, causing them to be stung and bitten. There was also the bearing rein, which was used to pull the horse’s head in towards the chest in order to give a noticeable arch to the neck. This was considered to be a very desirable look, much sought after in carriage horses, but it meant that the animal was unable to b reathe properly and would later develop re s p i r a t o ry problems. The method also meant that horses were unable to look from side to side and found it difficult to pull their loads properly.

In Black Beauty this mistreatment of horses is vividly

portrayed and eventually led to the abolishment of the

bearing rein.

C o m m u n i c a t i v e a c t i v i t i e s

The following teacher-led activities cover the same sections

of text as the exercises at the back of the Reader, and

supplement those exercises. For supplementary exercises covering shorter sections of the book, see the

photocopiable Student’s Activities pages of this Factsheet.

These are primarily for use with class readers but, with the exception of discussion and pair/groupwork questions, can also be used by students working alone in a self-access centre.
ACTIVITIES BEFORE READING THE BOOK

1 Ask students if any of them have seen the film ‘Black Beauty’. If so, ask them to tell the other students about it. Did they like the film? Did they like the story?

2 Ask students to work in pairs to discuss this question: What jobs did horses do in the nineteenth century? Then discuss ideas as a class.

3 Photocopy the pictures on pages 3, 5,13,19, 25 and 29 as many times as necessary. Cut off the captions. Put students into groups. Hand out a set of photocopies to each group. Ask the groups to match the pictures with the captions.

ACTIVITIES AFTER READING A SECTION Chapters 1–6

Have a quiz! First look through the section and write 20 questions. For example: Who was Mr Gordon’s head groom? Divide the class into two teams. Ask each team a question in turn. Teams score two points if they get their own question right. They score one point if the other team cannot answer a question and they can.
Chapters 7–12

1 Put students into groups of four. Divide each group into two pairs, A and B. Pair A writes four sentences telling the story for each chapter from 7–9. However, they put their sentences for each chapter in the wrong order. Pair B does the same for chapters 10–12. Each pair then hands their sentences to the other pair who have to put them in the right order

2 Ask students to work in pairs to discuss this question: Why do Lady Westland’s carriage horses have to have bearing reins? How are the reins bad for the horses?
Chapters 13–18

Put students into small groups. They make a list of the ten most important events in these chapters. Then, as a class activity, elicit these events from students and write them on the board.
ACTIVITIES AFTER READING THE BOOK

1 Put students into small groups and ask them to discuss each of Black Beauty’s owners. Then they choose which owner they like the best, and give reasons. Have a class vote on the best owner. 2 In small groups, students talk about the life of horses at the time of the story compared with now. What sort of work do horses do now? Are horses ever treated badly now?

G l o s s a r y

It will be useful for your students to know these new words. They are practised in the ‘Before You Read’sections of exercises at the back of the book. (Definitions are based on those in the Longman Active Study Dictionary.)

Chapters 1–6 beauty (n) the quality of being beautiful bit (n) a metal bar that is put in the mouth of a horse and used to control its movements bite (v) to cut or crush something with your teeth carriage (n) a vehicle with wheels that is pulled by a horse collar (n) a leather band fastened around an animal’s neck farm (n) an area of land using for keeping animals or growing food field (n) an area of land that is used for growing crops, keeping animals, or playing a sport grass (n) a very common plant with thin green leaves that grows across fields, parks, etc. groom (n) someone whose job is to take care of horses harness (n) a set of leather bands fastened with metal that is used to control a horse rein (n) a long narrow band of leather that is fastened around a horse’s head in order to control it ride (v) to sit on and control the movement of a horse, or bicycle saddle (n) a seat made of leather that is put on a horse’s back so you can ride it soon (adv) in a short time from now, or a short time after something else happens stable (n) a building where horses are kept star (n) a shape with five or six points sticking out of it whip (n) a long thin piece of leather or rope with a handle, used for making animals move faster Chapters 13–18 cab (n) a carriage pulled by horses in which you pay the driver to take you somewhere cart (n) a vehicle with two or four wheels, that is pulled by a horse drunk (adj) unable to control your behaviour, speech, etc. because you have drunk too much alcohol

P u b l i s h e d a n d d i s t r i b u t e d b y P e a r s o n E d u c a t i o n F a c t s h e e t w r i t t e n b y Y v o n n e H a r m e r

S t u d e n t ’ s a c t i v i t i e s
Photocopiable

Students can do these exercises alone or with one or more other students. Pair/group-only exercises are marked.
Activities before reading the book

1 Work with some other students. Look at picture on the front of the book. Talk about these questions.

(a) Why is the horse called Black Beauty? (b) What is Black Beauty like?

2 Read the Introduction in your book. Now close the book. What can you remember about Anna Sewell?

(a) What year was she born in? (b) Where was she born? (c) How old was she when she had an accident? (d) How many books did she write? (e) Why did she write Black Beauty? (f) How did the book help horses?
Activities while reading the book
CHAPTERS 1–6

Chapters 1 & 2 1 Match the words (a–e) with the meanings (i–v). (a) carriage (b) harness (c) bit (d) saddle (e) collar (i) a seat made of leather that is put on a horse’s

back (ii) a metal bar that is put in a horse’s mouth (iii) a leather band fastened around an animal’s neck (iv) a set of leather bands fastened with metal (v) a vehicle with wheels that is pulled by a horse
2 Write five things that a horse has to learn.

3 What does Black Beauty’s mother tell him always to do?

Chapters 3 & 4 1 Answer these questions. (a) Who told Black Beauty to work hard? (b) Who was small and fat? (c) Who was afraid of Ginger? (d) Who was the head groom? (e) Who wanted to try Black Beauty but had some other work?
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Black Beauty

(f) Who thought of the name ‘Black Beauty’?

2 Work with another student.

Student A: You are Black Beauty. Ask Merrylegs about life in Mr Gordon’s stables.

Student B: You are Merrylegs. Tell Black Beauty about Mr Gordon’s stables, and about Ginger.

Chapters 5 & 6 These sentences are wrong. Make them right. (a) The stable boy’s name was John Manly. (b) Ginger and Black Beauty went fast when the driver

whipped them. (c) On Sunday the horses stayed in the stable all day. (d) Sir Clifford wants to find a good horse. (e) It was sunny when Mr Gordon went to the city. (f) There was an accident because Black Beauty crossed the bridge.
CHAPTERS 7–12
Chapters 7 & 8

1 What happens first, second, third, fourth ...? Write 1–8 next to the sentences. (a) James helped Joe groom Merrylegs. __
(b) A groom smoked in the stables. __

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ELEMENTARY

(c) James and Ginger came out through the

smoke. __ (d) Joe came to the stables. __ (e) Black Beauty woke up and was very unhappy. __ (f) James put a coat round Black Beauty’s head. __ (g) James and Ginger were ill. __ (h) Black Beauty saw the smoke. __

2 Talk with another student or write your answer.

Black Beauty is very afraid in the fire. Talk about this. How does James help him?

Chapters 9 & 10 1 Who says these things? Who are they speaking to? (a) ‘What did we do to you?’ (b) ‘Give this letter to Doctor White in Hertford.’ (c) ‘Yes, we have to thank you!’ (d) ‘You have to run now!’ (e) ‘Mrs Gordon is very ill.’

S t u d e n t ’ s a c t i v i t i e s
(f) ‘A stupid boy!’

2 You are Jessie. Write a letter to a friend. Tell them where you are going and why, and about Merryleg’s new home.
Chapters 11 & 12

1 This is what happens in Chapters 11 and 12. Complete the passage with the words in the box.

hurt bearing drivers hold Ginger slowly angry fell boss pull carriage caught shorter harness

John took (a) .................... and Black Beauty to Earl’s Hall. Mr York, the (b) .................... of the (c) .................... and grooms looked at them. He said that Lady Westland’s (d) .................... horses have to (e) .................... their heads up so they have (f) .................... reins. Lord Westland tells York to (g) .................... their heads up (h) .................... Lady

Westland wants York to make the reins (i) .................... .

Ginger was very (j) .................... . She (k) ....................

her legs in the (I) .................... and (m) .................... .

The reins (n) .................... Black Beauty every day.

2 Talk with another student or write your answer. Is Lady Westland kind to horses? How do you feel

about her?

CHAPTERS 13–18

Chapters 13 & 14

1 Join these beginnings and ends of sentences with because.

(a) Reuben Smith wasn’t a boss (b) Reuben stayed in the White horse hotel (c) Reuben didn’t see Black Beauty’s shoe fall off (d) Black Beauty fell (e) Lord Westland was angry (f) Black Beauty liked Mr Barker (i) he was drunk. (ii) he had to sell Black Beauty. (iii) the bad road cut his foot. (iv) he sometimes got drunk. (v) he liked horses and was kind to them. (vi) he was with some old friends.

2 Talk with a partner or write your answer. What kind of life will Black Beauty have in London?

Chapters 15 & 16 1 Answer these questions. (a) What was there a lot of in the streets of London? (b) Who was Harry? What did he do for Black

Beauty? (c) What was Black Beauty’s new name? (d) How many days did Black Beauty work? And how

many hours each day? (e) Write four kind things that Jerry Barker did.

2 Work with another student. Student A: You are Ginger. Tell Black Beauty your story.

Student B: You are Black Beauty. Ask Ginger questions.

Chapters 17 & 18 Finish these sentences.

(a) Polly didn’t like Jerry to work in bad weather

because ... (b) Mrs Fowler wrote to Polly because ... (c) Jerry sold Black Beauty to Mr Thoroughgood

because ... (d) The women at Rose Hall didn’t want a young horse

because ... (e) Joe knew the horse was Black Beauty because ...
Activities after reading the book

1 Work in small groups. Look at the names of the chapters in the book. Write a different name for each chapter and write one sentence to say what happens in that chapter. 2 Talk to two other students. Did you enjoy this story? Why/Why not? Write down what you think. Then read it to the class. Do other students think the same as you?

3 You are a newspaper writer. Write about the treatment of horses in the nineteenth century.

P u b l i s h e d a n d d i s t r i b u t e d b y P e a r s o n E d u c a t i o n F a c t s h e e t w r i t t e n b y Y v o n n e H a r m e r

P e n g u i n R e a d e r s A n s w e r K e yl e v e l

ELEMENTARY 2Black Beauty
Answers to Book activities

1 Open answers.
2 a horses horses dogs, horses, etc. b Open answers. c On the ground/in a field/in the garden On a farm/in the country. In the sky.

d They go on a journey. They hit animals. e beautiful f He/She works with horses. g In a short time. 3 a Black Beauty’s mother. She is teaching her son. She wants farmers to be kind to him. b Mr Gordon is talking about Black Beauty. c Merrylegs is talking about Ginger. Ginger is an angry horse. She was very unhappy. d John Manly is talking about James.
4–5 Open answers.
6 a Who... A hotel groom. b Why ... Because James talks quietly to

him and puts a coat over his eyes. c Who... Doctor White d Why ... Because he is very tired and hot. Then Joe gives him cold water and does not put anything over him.

e What ... He wants to open a school for young horses. f What ... It pulls a horse’s head up.
7–8 Open answers.
9 a A horse. b A taxi-driver. c They feel happy – or ill.

10 a Reuben Smith. b Reuben Smith c Black Beauty d His wife Polly, his son Harry and his

daughter Dolly. e Ginger f Mr Thoroughgood, a farmer. g The white star. 11–15 Open answers.
Answers to Factsheet activities

s Communicative activities Activities before reading the book Open answers
Activities after reading a section
Open answers
Activities after reading the book
Open answers

s Student’s activities Activities before reading the book
1 Open answers
2 (a) 1820.

(b) Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England. (c) Fourteen. (d) One. (e) Because she wanted to tell people that some horses had to pull very heavy things and had to work for hours and hours.

(f) Many people were kinder to horses after they read Anna’s book.

Activities while reading the book CHAPTERS 1–6 Chapters 1 & 2 1 (a) (v) (b) (iv) (c) (ii) (d) (i) (e) (iii)

2 Possible answers not to move when a man puts a harness on him or a bit in his mouth to have a saddle on his back and to carry a man, woman or child on his back to walk, go a little faster, or go very fast to walk with shoes on his feet to go in carriage harness to pull a carriage

3 Always be good, Always work hard and do your best. Chapters 3 & 4 1 (a) Farmer Grey. (b) Merrylegs. (c) Jessie and Flora. (d) John Manly. (e) Mr Gordon. (f) Mrs Gordon. 2 Open answers Chapters 5 & 6 (a) The stable boy’s name was James Howard. (b) Ginger and Black Beauty went fast when the

driver wanted them to go fast. (c) On Sunday the horses stayed in a field all

day. (d) Sir Clifford wants to find a good young

groom. (e) There was a strong wind when Mr Gordon

went to the city. (f) There wasn’t an accident because Black Beauty didn’t cross the bridge.

CHAPTERS 7–12 Chapters 7 & 8 1 (a) 8 (b)1 (c) 5 (d) 7 (e) 2 (f) 4 (g) 6

(h) 3
2 Open answers Chapters 9 & 10
1 (a) John to Black Beauty (b) Mr Gordon to John (c) Mr Gordon to Black Beauty (d) John to Black Beauty (e) John to Dr White (f) John to the other men 2 Open answer Chapters 11 & 12

1 (a) Ginger (b) boss (c) drivers (d) carriage (e) have (f) bearing (g) pull (h) slowly (i) shorter (j) angry (k) caught (I) harness (m) fell (n) hurt 2 Open answers

CHAPTERS 13–18 Chapters 13 & 14 1 (a) (iv) (b) (vi) (c) (i) (d) (iii) (e) (ii) (f) (v)
2 Open answer Chapters 15 &16
1 (a) horses, carriages, carts, people (b) Harry was Jerry Barker’s son. Harry

groomed Black Beauty well. (c) Jack. (d) Black Beauty worked six days and eight

hours each day. (e) He put the harness on slowly so it didn’t hurt; he never whipped Black Beauty; he didn’t put a bearing rein on Black Beauty; there was always good food, clean water and a clean stable. Chapters 17 & 18 (a)... he was ill in the winter every year. (b) ... she wanted Polly to work for her. (c) ... he wanted Black Beauty to have a better

home. (d) ... young horses sometimes go too fast or

run away. (e) ... he had a white star, a white foot and white on his back.
Activities after reading the book
Open answers
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