---
title: Describe the manner in which the protagonist's life was concluded at… — English Fairy Tales, Tom Thumb: the ti… · tree and pragmatics
description: Describe the manner in which the protagonist's life was concluded at the court of King Arthur. Exam question 4 of lesson 1964 «English Fairy Tales, Tom Thumb: the tinker takes the pudding, a cow swallows Tom, a fish and a raven carry him far, and his last journey ends with a spider» of the books cou
---

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# Exam question 4 · English Fairy Tales, Tom Thumb: the tinker takes the puddi…

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Describe the manner in which the protagonist's life was concluded at the court of King Arthur.

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 1 · **The right answer:** option 3 · wrong ✗ · **Who acts:** you · **What happens:** describe, conclude · **To what, where:** manner, life

<!-- .vabout -->
This is exam question 4 of lesson 1964 «English Fairy Tales, Tom Thumb: the tinker takes the pudding, a cow swallows Tom, a fish and a raven carry him far, and his last journey ends with a spider» of the books course of Mova's primary school, asked in stiff, formal language. The page gives the question's syntax tree — a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies — and its pragmatics clause by clause, then the 4 options as the student saw them, each with its tree and pragmatics. Every text is parsed by Mova itself. How the student answered it, with the score of every option and why: [the test at school](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/school-run/books/1964-pg7439-part23/#e4).

## The question {#question}

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1964-pg7439-part23:e4:1
# text = Describe the manner in which the protagonist's life was concluded at the court of King Arthur.
1	Describe	describe	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	manner	manner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	11	obl	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	protagonist	protagonist	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	's	's	PART	POS	_	7	case	_	_
9	life	life	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj:pass	_	_
10	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	aux:pass	_	_
11	concluded	conclude	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl:relcl	_	_
12	at	at	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	court	court	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	_
15	of	of	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	King	King	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	17	compound	_	_
17	Arthur	Arthur	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	14	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **describe** | imperative | you *not said here* | the manner |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent manner=Theme |
| 2 | **conclude** | past · passive |  | the protagonist's life |  | the manner |  | at the court of King Arthur | vn deduce-97.2 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## The options {#options}

### Option 1 · ← Mova's choice {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
After a long quarrel at court, a huge spider crept up behind him, and its poisonous breath overcame him after he drew his sword and fought it.

<!-- fold The tree, 27 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1964-pg7439-part23:e4:o1:1
# text = After a long quarrel at court, a huge spider crept up behind him, and its poisonous breath overcame him after he drew his sword and fought it.
1	After	after	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	quarrel	quarrel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	court	court	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	huge	huge	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	spider	spider	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
11	crept	creep	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
12	up	up	ADP	RP	_	11	compound:prt	_	_
13	behind	behind	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
16	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	20	cc	_	_
17	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	19	nmod:poss	_	_
18	poisonous	poisonous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	_	_
19	breath	breath	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	nsubj	_	_
20	overcame	overcome	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	conj	_	_
21	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	20	obj	_	_
22	after	after	SCONJ	IN	_	24	mark	_	_
23	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	24	nsubj	_	_
24	drew	draw	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	20	advcl	_	_
25	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	26	nmod:poss	_	_
26	sword	sword	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	obj	_	_
27	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	28	cc	_	_
28	fought	fight	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	24	conj	_	_
29	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	28	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
30	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **creep up** | past | a huge spider |  |  |  | after a long quarrel at court | behind him *= he* | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme behind he=Trajectory |
| 2 | **overcome** | past | spider's poisonous breath | him *= he* |  |  |  |  | vn exceed-90 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot he=Theme |
| 3 | **draw** | past | breath | breath's sword |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sword=Theme |
| 4 | **fight** | past | breath *not said here* | sword |  |  |  |  | vn battle-36.4-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Co-Agent |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A giant wasp stung him, and its venom overcame him after he struck it with his blade.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1964-pg7439-part23:e4:o2:1
# text = A giant wasp stung him, and its venom overcame him after he struck it with his blade.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	giant	giant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	wasp	wasp	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	stung	sting	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
8	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	venom	venom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
10	overcame	overcome	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
11	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	obj	_	_
12	after	after	SCONJ	IN	_	14	mark	_	_
13	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
14	struck	strike	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	advcl	_	_
15	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	obj	_	_
16	with	with	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	18	nmod:poss	_	_
18	blade	blade	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sting** | past | a giant wasp | him *= he* |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus he=Experiencer |
| 2 | **overcome** | past | wasp's venom | him *= he* |  |  |  |  | vn exceed-90 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot he=Theme |
| 3 | **strike** | past | venom | wasp |  |  |  | with venom's blade | vn hit-18.1-1 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent it=Patient with blade=Instrument |

### Option 3 · ✓ the right answer {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A large spider attacked him, and its poisonous breath overcame him after he fought with his sword.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1964-pg7439-part23:e4:o3:1
# text = A large spider attacked him, and its poisonous breath overcame him after he fought with his sword.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	large	large	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	spider	spider	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	attacked	attack	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
8	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
9	poisonous	poisonous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	breath	breath	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
11	overcame	overcome	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
12	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	obj	_	_
13	after	after	SCONJ	IN	_	15	mark	_	_
14	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	15	nsubj	_	_
15	fought	fight	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	advcl	_	_
16	with	with	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	18	nmod:poss	_	_
18	sword	sword	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **attack** | past | a large spider | him *= he* |  |  |  |  | vn attack-60.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent he=Patient |
| 2 | **overcome** | past | spider's poisonous breath | him *= he* |  |  |  |  | vn exceed-90 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot he=Theme |
| 3 | **fight** | past | breath |  |  |  |  | with breath's sword | vn battle-36.4-1 «NP V PP.co-agent»: agent=Agent with sword=Co-Agent |

### Option 4 {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A large spider attacked him in the hall, and its poisonous breath overcame him after he fought bravely with his sword and tried to escape through the window.

<!-- fold The tree, 28 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1964-pg7439-part23:e4:o4:1
# text = A large spider attacked him in the hall, and its poisonous breath overcame him after he fought bravely with his sword and tried to escape through the window.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	large	large	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	spider	spider	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	attacked	attack	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	hall	hall	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
11	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	13	nmod:poss	_	_
12	poisonous	poisonous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	breath	breath	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nsubj	_	_
14	overcame	overcome	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
15	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	obj	_	_
16	after	after	SCONJ	IN	_	18	mark	_	_
17	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	18	nsubj	_	_
18	fought	fight	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	14	advcl	_	_
19	bravely	bravely	ADV	RB	_	18	advmod	_	_
20	with	with	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
21	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	22	nmod:poss	_	_
22	sword	sword	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	obl	_	_
23	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	24	cc	_	_
24	tried	try	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	18	conj	_	_
25	to	to	PART	TO	_	26	mark	_	_
26	escape	escape	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	24	xcomp	_	_
27	through	through	ADP	IN	_	29	case	_	_
28	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	29	det	_	_
29	window	window	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	26	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
30	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **attack** | past | a large spider | him *= he* |  | the hall |  |  | vn attack-60.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent he=Patient |
| 2 | **overcome** | past | spider's poisonous breath | him *= he* |  |  |  |  | vn exceed-90 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot he=Theme |
| 3 | **fight** | past | breath |  |  |  |  | with breath's sword; bravely *property* | vn battle-36.4-1 «NP V PP.co-agent»: agent=Agent with sword=Co-Agent |
| 4 | **try** | past | breath *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 5 | **escape** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | breath *not said here* |  |  | the window |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme through window=Initial\_Location |

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**Text:** the tests of Mova's primary school, written for Mova (`world/data/school/`), as the course runner gave them to the student. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each text read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

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