The Wednesday Wars

The Wednesday Wars

by Gary D. Schmidt

ISBN-10: 0-618-72483-4

ISBN-13: 978-0-618-72483-3

About the book:

Holling Hoddhood is really in for it. He’s just started seventh grade with Mrs. Baker, a teacher he knows is out to get him. Why else would she make him read Shakespeare….outside class?

            The year is 1967, and everyone has bigger things to worry about, especially Vietnam. Then there’s the family business. As far as Holling’s father is concerned, the Hoodhoods need to be on their best behavior: the success of Hoodhood and Associated depends on it. But how can Holling stay out of trouble when he has so much to contend with? Rats, for one thing; cream puffs, for another. Then there’s Doug Swieteck’s brother. And Ariel’s costume: tights. That’s just for starters. In a series of mishaps and adventures over the course of a school year, fate sneaks up on Holling again and again.

            Gary D. Schmidt has written a novel that is at turns comic and compelling, down-to-earth and over-the-top. In The Wednesday Wars, he offers an unforgettable antihero in Holling Hoodhood, a kid from the suburbs who embraces his destiny in spite of himself.

About the author:

Gary D. Schmidt is the author of Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy, which won both a Newbery Honor and a Printz Honor. His other novels for Clarion are Anson’s Way and Straw into Gold. He grew up in a Long Island suburb, where he crouched under his desk during atomic bomb alerts, heard powerful voices speaking out against the Vietnam war, memorized Shakespeare, and pounded erasers against brick walls at school. He is now a professor of English at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Discussion guide:

1. In the beginning of the novel, Holling is convinced that his teacher, Mrs. Baker, despises him. Why does he believe this to be so? What details help support his case? Do you think it is obvious which students your teachers like and dislike? Have you ever been justly (or unjustly) disliked by one of your teachers? What type of year did you have?
2. Why is Holling left alone on Wednesday afternoons with Mrs. Baker? What is he compelled to do for her? Finally Mrs. Baker starts assigning the plays of which bard? What is Holling surprised to learn about the plays?
3. Holling receives threats from many of his classmates over puff pastry. How does this transpire? How does he try to fix the situation? Why does Mrs. Baker say to Holling over the pastry incident: “The quality of mercy is not strained.” How so? Does this change Holling’s perception of Mrs. Baker? To whom do you offer mercy?
4. Why do you think the author chooses to call Doug Swieteck’s brother by this moniker for the entire novel rather than name him? What other intentional choices did Gary D. Schmidt make about other characters? How do readers get to know the characters of a novel?
5. Discuss Holling’s relationship with his parents, especially his father. What expectations does Mr. Hoodhood have for his children? Is he involved in Holling’s life? Would you consider him a good father or not? Why? How does Holling finally stand up to his father?  
6. Gary D. Schmidt creates an entire cast of secondary characters who flit in and out of the novel some of them are even rodents! How do their stories weave depth and comedy into Holling’s story? Which of these minor characters is your favorite: Doug Sweitick’s brother, Mai Thai, Meryl Lee, Danny Hupfer, Mrs. Sidman, Sycorax and Caliban.
7. How does Holling’s Valentines Day date with Meryl Lee become entwined with Mr. Hoodhood’s bid for the new junior high school? Why does Mr. Hoodhood refer to architecture as a “blood sport?”  Does Mr. Hoodhood eventually get what he deserves? How?
8. Why is playing the part of Ariel a humiliating incident for Holling? What is the worst part of the whole experience? What new picture is finally pasted around the school? Who do you think posted them around the school the second time? What makes you think so?
9. Why does the section concerning Mickey Mantle inspire Holling to say that “When gods die, they die hard” (p. 92) Even though Holling is devastated over the treatment he receives from one of his heroes he is astounded by the loyalty of a friend. How does Danny prove his honor and friendship that night? Has a friend ever stood up for you? How? Are the boys ultimately rewarded? How?
10. What advice does Holling give Mrs. Baker about her teaching before the board visits the classroom? If you could give a teacher advice what would be the most important, most helpful instruction you might offer? Do you think his advice was given in a sincere attempt to help her or not? Would yours?
11. Many important historical events occur as the novel unfolds like the assassination of both Marin Luther King, Jr. and Bobby Kennedy. Which events do you think your children one day ask you about? How are people shaped by the times in which they live and grow up?
12. How does Holling’s sister try to rebel against the expectations of her father? What does she want to do after graduation? How does this lead to her disappearance from the Perfect House? How does Holling come to his sister’s rescue? Do you think they will remain close or not?
13. Which of the many plays of Shakespeare has the most influence over Holling? Now that you’ve heard the summaries of many of the great plays which ones are you most compelled to read? Give examples of how Holling’s life mirrors the play in which he is reading. How does it influence his actions? Can reading actually change the person you are? Which books have fundamentally changed your perspective?
14. At the end of the novel what compels Mrs. Baker to say “Chrysanthemum” to Holling? Do you think she can take a good deal of the credit for this or not? How can one excellent teacher have a lasting impact on a child’s life? What teacher has most influenced you? How did their lives become intertwined beyond the walls of the classroom?
15. Predict what you think Holling will be doing ten years after the close of the novel. Will he become what his father expects? Will he be able to define himself despite the expectations that weigh him down?

Curriculum Connections:

Language Arts:

Read (or see) one of the Shakespearean plays that Holling reads during the course of the novel. Write a brief journal about what you learned and compare your own thoughts on it to what Holling had to say. Choose a few lines that mean the most to you and commit them to memory. Discuss why you chose these lines and the process of memorizing them in your journal as well.

History:

Explore the decade of the 1960’s. Create a timeline of important historical events. Research the influence of important social and political movements; listen to music that was popular during this period (esp. the Monkees and the Beetles mentioned in the book). Create an historical timeline for your life.

Research one of the following topics from the book:

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Bobby Kennedy

The Civil Rights Movement

Hippies

The Space Program

Atomic Bomb

Vietnam War

Shakespeare

Architectural Landmarks (of your own town)

Mickey Mantle

Keeping Score

Keeping Score by Linda Sue Park About the book: Most people call her Maggie. Her brother, Joey-Mick, calls her Mags, Mom calls her Margaret Olivia Fortini (when she’s angry). Dad always calls her Maggie-o—after Joe DiMaggio, his favorite baseball player. Maggie and Joey-Mick aren’t Yankee fans like Dad: their team is the Brooklyn Dodgers. Although Maggie doesn’t play baseball herself, she knows the game. She can recite the players’ stats, understand complicated plays, cheers when the Dodgers win—and suffers when they lose. Even with Maggie’s support and prayers, the Dodgers fail to win the World Series, season after season. Adding to her disappointment, the letters she sends to her friend and baseball mentor, Jim—serving in the army in Korea—aren’t answered. No matter what she does, Mggie can’t seem to break Jim’s long silence. Or help the Dodgers. Will anything she tries ever make a difference? About the author: Linda Sue Park is the author of the Newbery medal winner A Single Shard. Her Clarion titles include five other novels, two picture books, and a book of poetry. Ms. Park grew up in Chicago area and was an ardent baseball fan as a child. She says of Keeping Score, “For the scenes depicting Maggie’s disappointment at the Dodgers’ many near-misses, I was able—alas!—to draw on many memories from my years as a Cubs’ fan.” She is now a fan of the New York Mets, continuing the cycle of disappointment and hope. She lives with her family in Rochester, New York. Her website is www.lindasuepark.com Pre-reading: Are you a fan of any team? What does it mean to be a fan? Do you stick with your team year after year, even when they always disappoint you? Do fans make a difference? How? Discussion guide: Explain the names and nicknames that make up Maggie’s family. Are there any nicknames in your own family? If you could be named after anyone, who would it be? Who is Jim? What does he teach Maggie that becomes a part of her life as a fan? Would you be interested in learning how to keep score? How is it like a secret code? “ There was something else about keeping score—something Maggie loved most of all….It was as if cheering for them, supporting them, listening to the games, talking about them, somehow helped them play better.” (p. 33) What rituals does Maggie think will make a difference in baseball and in life? Do you think most fans feel this same sense of purpose and connection to their teams? Despite their love of the game, Mr. Fortini won’t let his kids go to Ebbets Field to watch. Why?  How do parents develop their restrictions for their children? Who does Maggie choose as her favorite player? Why does this upset Joey-Mick so much? What does she like so much about this player? Who is your favorite player? Why? Maggie struggles with the notion of prayer throughout the novel. She wonders about whether you should pray or not for certain things (like baseball games) and whether it makes a difference. What does she decide? Do you think prayers “are like collecting shells—maybe you had to say a whole lot of them before they added up to something.” (p. 83) Is one prayer as important as many or not? Why? Is it okay to pray for things you want or only for others? What realization does Maggie make about her mom? Do you think there are things about your own parents that you never noticed before either? Despite Maggie’s steadfast devotion and several near misses, the Dodgers never win the World Series. Is any kind of loss equally bad or is it harder to bear when you get so close? Would a shut out be easier to swallow than so many near misses? Support your opinion! Who is Jay-Hey? How does Maggie have a connection to him? What types of things does she send him? What happens to him? How does this make Maggie feel? Have you ever had a pen pal? Maggie tries understanding the conflict in Korea by reading both current and past newspapers but doesn’t have much luck. How does her mom explain it to her in a way she comes to understand? Why does she create so many maps? What else does she learn about the Korean conflict?  What happened to Jim in Korea? Why does Maggie’s dad keep the truth from her for so long? How does she try to make him feel better? What sacrifices does she make for this effort? What else does she try on Jim’s behalf? Describe Maggie and Treecie’s friendship. One of the things they love to discuss is their future careers. What plans does Treecie have? What options were available to most girls during this time? What careers do you think about for your own future?  In the end, Maggie decides, “Maybe praying was another way to practice hope.” (p. 186) What other ways to people practice hope? What do you hope for? Projects: Reading: “Instead of spooling randomly for articles about the war, Maggie was now looking for something specific. It made the search go much more quickly.” (p. 95) Maggie learned that having a purpose while you’re reading makes it much easier to stay focused and to comprehend what you’re reading. Now you try it in one of the following ways: Read chapters one and two and find at least ten facts about Maggie. Or, read the lead article in your local newspaper and answer the five journalistic questions: who, what, when, where and why. Language arts: Maggie gets hooked on the local paper when she realizes there is a sports section and articles about her favorite team. Explore your own local paper and clip out at least three things you find interesting and discuss why you picked these in a short journal response. The letters and packages Maggie sent to Jim and Jay were important to them but also to Maggie. Find a pen pal or write to someone who is serving our country in the military, Red Cross, or Peace Corps. Discuss what you learned about writing letters in a brief journal. History: The novel takes place over 1951-1954. Create a timeline that includes the ten years before the novel opens to ten years after it closes. Include not just important political and social dates but interesting facts from popular culture as well. Math: Baseball is a game dominated by math with individual and team averages. How does your favorite game use mathematics? Create at least five word problems using the sport and team of your choice. Trade with a friend.

The Goose Girl

The Goose Girl

By Shannon Hale

About the book:

What do you get when you take a traditional fairy tale and mix it with a heroine who rescues herself? The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale! This heroine’s journey commences when the princess is betrayed by her lady-in-waiting who steals both her title and her future. Forced to hide her identity from those who would destroy her, Ani becomes a common goose girl in service to the prince she should marry. For the first time in her sheltered life, the princess learns what it is like to earn one’s place and make true friends. Ani masters her fear of people, discovers her magic with animals, and creates a future for herself.

About the guide: 

This guide includes discussion questions, and projects intended to extend the use of the novel into classrooms, book clubs, and literature circles.

Prediction Activity:

Read this from the jacket:

 “From the Grimm’s fairy tale of the princess who became a goose girl before she could become queen, Shannon Hale has woven an incredible, original and magical tale of a girl who must find her own unusual talents before she can lead the people she has made her own”

Why will she become a goose girl before she will be queen?

Will she want to be a goose girl? Would you by the sound of it?

What do you think Ani’s “unusual talents” might mean?

What do you think this story will be about? What will happen in the end?

Prediction Guide

Great readers keep themselves involved in the story while they’re reading by making predictions about what they think may happen next. They look for clues to help them make these guesses. Often the author deliberately tries to surprise the reader with extra details that may not turn out to be critical. As you read The Goose Girl create questions AS YOU GO (at least one per chapter) about what you think might happen next- don’t worry whether your predictions turn out correct or not. Here are some phrases that may help you create your predictions… “I wonder whether…” “I think that Ani will probably…”“I think the next obstacle may be…” “I hope that…”

Comprehension Check:

1. Describe how Anidori-Kiladra Talianna Isilee changes from the beginning of the tale to the end.
2. Explain why Ani loses her claim to the throne and what her mother demands instead.
3. Retell the events that lead to Ani becoming a Goose Girl.
4. Who betrays Ani and who proves to be true friends and loyal to the end?
5. Which one of the literary elements was your favorite part of the book- the characters, setting, theme, plot or magical elements?
6. Compare the female characters to the male characters in the book. What qualities do they share? How are they different?
7. What would have happened if Ani was not able to develop her skills with the animals? What might her fate have been? Do you think she could have found happiness as a common goose girl?
8. How would this story be different if told through the eyes of Selia, Enna, or Galic? How would main events be described differently?
9. Explain what you think is the most pivotal moment in the story. Why did you choose this one over others?

10. How are the women characters different from traditional fairy tales such as Rapunzel or Cinderella? What does Ani learn from each of the women in her life?

Discussion Guide:

1. The Queen tells Ani that, “Anidori, a crown princess, like a queen, can succeed only by staying apart. Separation, elevation, delegation.” (p. 25) Define these three terms in your own words and then discuss whether you agree with the queen’s assumptions or not. What do you think it would be like to live under these expectations?  How do you think this would impact Ani’s ability to make true friends and keep them?
2. If you were to become the director for The Goose Girl who would you like to see cast in each role? Why would you pick these particular actors?

3. Although Ani has the gift of animal-speak, she is forced to hide it from others. How would her life have been different in Kildenree had this been a valued gift in her own kingdom? Have you ever known someone who hid their own gifts? Can we always reveal all our talents all of the time? Why or why not?

4. Ani is stripped of her rightful crown by her mother and forced into poverty and virtual slave labor by those who were hired to protect and care for her. While these life changes were traumatic and dramatic, in the end they proved to be good for Ani; she became a stronger, more insightful person and met people she may never have met. How so? What does she learn about herself? What does she learn from those who befriend her along her journey? How would things have been different between Geric and Ani had she not gone through these trials?

5. Discuss Ani’s relationship with her mother. Do you think the Queen truly loved her daughter if she was able to deny her daughter’s birthright? Do you believe her mother’s actions a betrayal? A political move? A move to protect her daughter? A selfish act? What makes you believe this?

6. A character’s intentions (both good and bad) can be revealed through several methods- their words, actions, their treatment of others and how people treat them. How are the intentions of Selia, Ungolad, Talone, Geric and Enna shown through each of these methods? Were their hints to Selia’s unhappiness before the journey began?

7. Compare the Kildenreans to the Bayern. How are they similar? How are they different? Are there important differences between them? For example, what did the Kildenreans do to repulse the Bayern? Do you think the author was trying to make a point about cultural differences between all people? What can we learn from Ani’s experience and apply to our own lives today?

8. Discuss how appearance and prejudice helps and hinders Ani in her quest for justice and her title. For example, what does Gilsa know about Ani by her appearance alone? (p.92-92) What does Geric assume? Why do you think people make assumptions based on appearance alone?

9. Discuss the romance between Geric and Ani. Geric is described on p. 152 “He had thick black hair, cut just longer than his shoulders, that he tied back in a low pony’s tail, and the kind of prominent jaw and chin that would stay prominent for all his life. His shoulders were broad, and it was not just a trick of a well-cut tunic, as his was a thing cotton, roughly made.” Does he sound attractive? How would Geric describe Ani? How does their relationship bloom and then wilt? Were you surprised to learn who he really was?

10. Once in the forest, Selia’s treatment of Ani becomes obviously hostile and then leads to her betrayal.  It culminates when she proclaims, “Royalty is not a right, Captain. The willingness of the people to follow a ruler is what gives her power. Here in this place, by this people, I have been chosen.” (p. 79) Do you agree with Selia’s assessment? Is this action similar to those taken by commoners throughout history who wished to gain power over their own destinies? How does Ani, by the end of the story match Selia’s description?

11. At first Ani believes the handkerchief her mother gave her is protecting her, but after the tragic events in the forest she realizes, “… the idea was completely ridiculous, a bed-tale, a lie.”(p. 88) Why is this an important moment for Ani? How does it serve her for the rest of the novel? What ideas or objects do you cling to when you face difficult times as Ani did?

12. What do you think Ani’s mother, brother, and sisters would say when they learned how she saved their kingdom from annihilation? Do you think they would regret their treatment of her? What would Ani’s Aunt say? Whose approval do you think would be most important to Ani? Why?

13. On cold evenings, Ani joins the other animal workers and roasts nuts by the fire and learns to play games. For the first time in her life, Ani must learn to build friendships with people who are not paid to be her companions. What skills does she develop? How does she turn these strangers, especially Enna, into such dear friends they are willing to put their lives in danger for her?

14. The author, Shannon Hale, said about the setting of Goose Girl:  “I felt it was important to make the setting as close to the setting of the tale as I could. It felt to me like a place we know, a place that is here somewhere, but in the past, just as tales are about us but long ago. To do that, I based Bayern loosely on the Germany of old, the birthplace of the Brothers Grimm. This is not a true historical setting, but resources such as the writings of the Roman historian Tacitus helped me build a foundation for what I hoped was a believable, and familiar, world.” What details of the setting are your favorite and why? Does it seem familiar and true to you? Why or why not? Did you think it is important for an author of fantasy to pay close attention to a setting’s detail? Why or why not? How could this inform your own writing?

15. In traditional fairy tales, the main character is often rescued by another person. In this modern adaptation, Ani is able to save herself by learning to harness her own gifts and overcoming her inadequacies with people. Do you think one type of story is more valuable than another? Which story would you rather read about? What can we learn about ourselves by reading tales?

16. Fairy tales often share common characteristics- the use of the number three, magical elements, transformations, and the conquest of good over evil. Additionally, the hero or heroine is often infallible. Which elements did Shannon Hale decide to incorporate into the Goose Girl? Which ones did she eliminate? Why do you think so? What makes a fairy tale different from other types of stories?

17. Discuss this quote from the author: “Tales are fascinating things. They seem to me to be the poetry of history-all the superfluous bits are worn down, tossed away, leaving only the sharpest images, the strongest words, the barest stories. But those stories survive. To do so, I believe they must hold some real human truth. They speak to each reader in a different way, and yet appeal universally to readers and storytellers over decades and centuries.” Do you agree with the author? What do you think she means by the phrase, “real human truth”?  How is this shown throughout the novel?

Projects:

Art:

Your school has just announced The Goose Girl as the spring play. Make at least three sketches for the set design. Be sure to include the background and any furniture or props that would be needed in a large, poster-size format.

-or-

Sketch or create the costumes or headdresses that the characters will need. Identify the characters in at least three different scenes.

Language:

Write two petitions to the queen or king (you parent or a principal perchance?) about something you would like changed in your own village (like a larger allowance for the wintermoon festival?) One should be written by someone who has the gift of people-speak, the other by a common person.

Vocabulary:

Find the invented words that add authenticity to the language of Kildenree and Bayern. (For example: nurse-mary) and write a brief definition of the word and use it in a complete sentence.

History:

Ani uses thornroot-a brown, pinkie-sized root she trades for an apple, then cuts in strips and bruises with vinegar to create a dye. She uses this concoction to darken her fair eyebrows and disguise herself better in Bayern. Research other herbs, insects and beauty secrets used throughout the ages by both women and men.

Drama:

Write the scene with dialogue between Ani and her mother when they finally meet again. What will Ani reveal? What will her mother expect of her?

The Goose Girl

By Shannon Hale

About the book:

What do you get when you take a traditional fairy tale and mix it with a heroine who rescues herself? The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale! This heroine’s journey commences when the princess is betrayed by her lady-in-waiting who steals both her title and her future. Forced to hide her identity from those who would destroy her, Ani becomes a common goose girl in service to the prince she should marry. For the first time in her sheltered life, the princess learns what it is like to earn one’s place and make true friends. Ani masters her fear of people, discovers her magic with animals, and creates a future for herself.

About the guide: 

This guide includes discussion questions, and projects intended to extend the use of the novel into classrooms, book clubs, and literature circles.

Prediction Activity:

Read this from the jacket:

 “From the Grimm’s fairy tale of the princess who became a goose girl before she could become queen, Shannon Hale has woven an incredible, original and magical tale of a girl who must find her own unusual talents before she can lead the people she has made her own”

Why will she become a goose girl before she will be queen?

Will she want to be a goose girl? Would you by the sound of it?

What do you think Ani’s “unusual talents” might mean?

What do you think this story will be about? What will happen in the end?

Prediction Guide

Great readers keep themselves involved in the story while they’re reading by making predictions about what they think may happen next. They look for clues to help them make these guesses. Often the author deliberately tries to surprise the reader with extra details that may not turn out to be critical. As you read The Goose Girl create questions AS YOU GO (at least one per chapter) about what you think might happen next- don’t worry whether your predictions turn out correct or not. Here are some phrases that may help you create your predictions… “I wonder whether…” “I think that Ani will probably…”“I think the next obstacle may be…” “I hope that…”

Comprehension Check:

1. Describe how Anidori-Kiladra Talianna Isilee changes from the beginning of the tale to the end.
2. Explain why Ani loses her claim to the throne and what her mother demands instead.
3. Retell the events that lead to Ani becoming a Goose Girl.
4. Who betrays Ani and who proves to be true friends and loyal to the end?
5. Which one of the literary elements was your favorite part of the book- the characters, setting, theme, plot or magical elements?
6. Compare the female characters to the male characters in the book. What qualities do they share? How are they different?
7. What would have happened if Ani was not able to develop her skills with the animals? What might her fate have been? Do you think she could have found happiness as a common goose girl?
8. How would this story be different if told through the eyes of Selia, Enna, or Galic? How would main events be described differently?
9. Explain what you think is the most pivotal moment in the story. Why did you choose this one over others?

10. How are the women characters different from traditional fairy tales such as Rapunzel or Cinderella? What does Ani learn from each of the women in her life?

Discussion Guide:

1. The Queen tells Ani that, “Anidori, a crown princess, like a queen, can succeed only by staying apart. Separation, elevation, delegation.” (p. 25) Define these three terms in your own words and then discuss whether you agree with the queen’s assumptions or not. What do you think it would be like to live under these expectations?  How do you think this would impact Ani’s ability to make true friends and keep them?
2. If you were to become the director for The Goose Girl who would you like to see cast in each role? Why would you pick these particular actors?

3. Although Ani has the gift of animal-speak, she is forced to hide it from others. How would her life have been different in Kildenree had this been a valued gift in her own kingdom? Have you ever known someone who hid their own gifts? Can we always reveal all our talents all of the time? Why or why not?

4. Ani is stripped of her rightful crown by her mother and forced into poverty and virtual slave labor by those who were hired to protect and care for her. While these life changes were traumatic and dramatic, in the end they proved to be good for Ani; she became a stronger, more insightful person and met people she may never have met. How so? What does she learn about herself? What does she learn from those who befriend her along her journey? How would things have been different between Geric and Ani had she not gone through these trials?

5. Discuss Ani’s relationship with her mother. Do you think the Queen truly loved her daughter if she was able to deny her daughter’s birthright? Do you believe her mother’s actions a betrayal? A political move? A move to protect her daughter? A selfish act? What makes you believe this?

6. A character’s intentions (both good and bad) can be revealed through several methods- their words, actions, their treatment of others and how people treat them. How are the intentions of Selia, Ungolad, Talone, Geric and Enna shown through each of these methods? Were their hints to Selia’s unhappiness before the journey began?

7. Compare the Kildenreans to the Bayern. How are they similar? How are they different? Are there important differences between them? For example, what did the Kildenreans do to repulse the Bayern? Do you think the author was trying to make a point about cultural differences between all people? What can we learn from Ani’s experience and apply to our own lives today?

8. Discuss how appearance and prejudice helps and hinders Ani in her quest for justice and her title. For example, what does Gilsa know about Ani by her appearance alone? (p.92-92) What does Geric assume? Why do you think people make assumptions based on appearance alone?

9. Discuss the romance between Geric and Ani. Geric is described on p. 152 “He had thick black hair, cut just longer than his shoulders, that he tied back in a low pony’s tail, and the kind of prominent jaw and chin that would stay prominent for all his life. His shoulders were broad, and it was not just a trick of a well-cut tunic, as his was a thing cotton, roughly made.” Does he sound attractive? How would Geric describe Ani? How does their relationship bloom and then wilt? Were you surprised to learn who he really was?

10. Once in the forest, Selia’s treatment of Ani becomes obviously hostile and then leads to her betrayal.  It culminates when she proclaims, “Royalty is not a right, Captain. The willingness of the people to follow a ruler is what gives her power. Here in this place, by this people, I have been chosen.” (p. 79) Do you agree with Selia’s assessment? Is this action similar to those taken by commoners throughout history who wished to gain power over their own destinies? How does Ani, by the end of the story match Selia’s description?

11. At first Ani believes the handkerchief her mother gave her is protecting her, but after the tragic events in the forest she realizes, “… the idea was completely ridiculous, a bed-tale, a lie.”(p. 88) Why is this an important moment for Ani? How does it serve her for the rest of the novel? What ideas or objects do you cling to when you face difficult times as Ani did?

12. What do you think Ani’s mother, brother, and sisters would say when they learned how she saved their kingdom from annihilation? Do you think they would regret their treatment of her? What would Ani’s Aunt say? Whose approval do you think would be most important to Ani? Why?

13. On cold evenings, Ani joins the other animal workers and roasts nuts by the fire and learns to play games. For the first time in her life, Ani must learn to build friendships with people who are not paid to be her companions. What skills does she develop? How does she turn these strangers, especially Enna, into such dear friends they are willing to put their lives in danger for her?

14. The author, Shannon Hale, said about the setting of Goose Girl:  “I felt it was important to make the setting as close to the setting of the tale as I could. It felt to me like a place we know, a place that is here somewhere, but in the past, just as tales are about us but long ago. To do that, I based Bayern loosely on the Germany of old, the birthplace of the Brothers Grimm. This is not a true historical setting, but resources such as the writings of the Roman historian Tacitus helped me build a foundation for what I hoped was a believable, and familiar, world.” What details of the setting are your favorite and why? Does it seem familiar and true to you? Why or why not? Did you think it is important for an author of fantasy to pay close attention to a setting’s detail? Why or why not? How could this inform your own writing?

15. In traditional fairy tales, the main character is often rescued by another person. In this modern adaptation, Ani is able to save herself by learning to harness her own gifts and overcoming her inadequacies with people. Do you think one type of story is more valuable than another? Which story would you rather read about? What can we learn about ourselves by reading tales?

16. Fairy tales often share common characteristics- the use of the number three, magical elements, transformations, and the conquest of good over evil. Additionally, the hero or heroine is often infallible. Which elements did Shannon Hale decide to incorporate into the Goose Girl? Which ones did she eliminate? Why do you think so? What makes a fairy tale different from other types of stories?

17. Discuss this quote from the author: “Tales are fascinating things. They seem to me to be the poetry of history-all the superfluous bits are worn down, tossed away, leaving only the sharpest images, the strongest words, the barest stories. But those stories survive. To do so, I believe they must hold some real human truth. They speak to each reader in a different way, and yet appeal universally to readers and storytellers over decades and centuries.” Do you agree with the author? What do you think she means by the phrase, “real human truth”?  How is this shown throughout the novel?

Projects:

Art:

Your school has just announced The Goose Girl as the spring play. Make at least three sketches for the set design. Be sure to include the background and any furniture or props that would be needed in a large, poster-size format.

-or-

Sketch or create the costumes or headdresses that the characters will need. Identify the characters in at least three different scenes.

Language:

Write two petitions to the queen or king (you parent or a principal perchance?) about something you would like changed in your own village (like a larger allowance for the wintermoon festival?) One should be written by someone who has the gift of people-speak, the other by a common person.

Vocabulary:

Find the invented words that add authenticity to the language of Kildenree and Bayern. (For example: nurse-mary) and write a brief definition of the word and use it in a complete sentence.

History:

Ani uses thornroot-a brown, pinkie-sized root she trades for an apple, then cuts in strips and bruises with vinegar to create a dye. She uses this concoction to darken her fair eyebrows and disguise herself better in Bayern. Research other herbs, insects and beauty secrets used throughout the ages by both women and men.

Drama:

Write the scene with dialogue between Ani and her mother when they finally meet again. What will Ani reveal? What will her mother expect of her?

www.TracieVaughnZimmer.com