Rump
The (Fairly) True Story of Rumpelstiltskin
by Liesl Shurtliff
Grades 3-7; Genre - Fantasy; GRL S; AR pts. 9.0
This story relates the tale of Rumpelstiltskin's childhood and youth, explaining why his name is so important, how he is able to spin straw into gold, and why a firstborn child is his reward for helping the miller's daughter-turned-queen.
Comprehension Questions
Chapter 1
- Summarize the introduction of this story. On The Mountain; Rump is the main character; his mom died when he was born and wasn’t able to tell his Gran what his full name is; Rump feels like his name is why he’s short, can’t find gold, and isn’t respected by the people in the village; the village mines for gold and receives extra rations when they give gold to the king p.1
Chapter 2
- Why is Rump so concerned about only having half his name? He thinks it limits him; a name is special and is your destiny p.10
- Why did the pixies behavior confuse Rump? They acted like they wanted him to use the spinning wheel; he’d heard pixies were only good for finding gold p.15
Chapter 3
- Why did Red ask if Rump was made of gold? The pixies swarm and bite him; they won’t leave him alone p.23
Chapter 4
- Why were Red’s granny’s words important to Rump? He learned he had to find his destiny to learn his entire name p.28
Chapter 5
- What warning do you think of at the end of this chapter that Red’s granny gave Rump? He needed to watch his step and he would cause trouble p.35
Chapter 6
- Summarize this chapter. The pixies wake up Rump and he turns straw to gold with the spinning wheel; Rump takes all of the straw out of his mattress and makes gold; morning comes, and he sees Frederick and Bruno looking in the window; he’s worried they saw the gold p.36
Chapter 7
- Why is Red nervous about the gold yarn? Magic has consequences; Frederick and Bruno saw it p.46
Chapter 8
- What do you think Rump’s dream meant? His mother was at first happy to be able to spin gold, but then it caused so much trouble she was in over her head p.51
Chapter 9
- What do you think Gran meant when she said the gold was inside Rump? Listen to your child’s answer; who Rump is inside in the real treasure p.61
Chapter 10
- Why was Rump’s house torn apart when he got home from Gran’s funeral? Someone had torn it apart looking for the gold p.68
Chapter 11
- Why did the king visit The Mountain? He found out someone in The Village was spinning gold and didn’t share with him p.68
- What gave Rump away? The pixies p.72
Chapter 12
- Why did Rump think the miller was mad at him? The miller lied for Rump saying it was his daughter who could spin gold; now the miller’s daughter is being taken to the castle to spin for the king; if she doesn’t spin gold she’ll die or go to the dungeon p.76
Chapter 13
- What consequence does Rump have if he uses magic? He loses control, his will p.87
Chapter 14
- Why did Rump feel like he needed to help Opal? Because he is good and kind and felt like it was his fault she was taken away p.92
Chapter 15
- Why did Rump hate gold? He was a prisoner to it and the greed of the king p.110
Chapter 16
- Choose a word to describe Opal. Explain why you chose that word. Listen to your child’s answer; selfish, she’s willing to give up her first-born baby to become queen p.113
Chapter 17
- Describe Martha. Kind, round woman, fed and took care of Rump after he fell out of the tower p.120
Chapter 18
- Summarize this chapter. Rump left the city and headed to Yonder to learn about his mother; he received a message from Red; he was captured by trolls p.130
Chapter 19
- Describe the evening Rump had with the trolls. They fed him dinner; told him stories; wrestled and uncovered a hole with objects including a magical harp p.140
Chapter 20
- Do you think Rump should have eaten the apple? Why, or why not? Listen to your child’s answer
Chapter 21
- Why did trump think he could find answers with the witches? They were magic like his mom and could spin wool into silk and grass into silver; because they had this is common, he hoped they knew of her p.163
Chapter 22
- How are Rump and his mom similar? They both can spin gold out of straw; they both lost their power due to the magic; they both were taken advantage of; they both wanted to escape p.173
Chapter 23
- What did Rump learn in this chapter? Hi mom got caught in a rumpel; his mom might have named him after the rumpel; her story sounded like his; a rumpel is deep magic p.180
Chapter 24
- Summarize Rump and Hadel’s interaction. She asked him to help move the Pixie nests; the pixies covered him; he told Hadel his name is Rump; she said only the entangler can get it untangled p.191
Chapter 25
- Explain what’s happening on The Mountain and why Rump feels he’s been selfish and should leave his aunts. They’re hungrier than ever because the king is withholding food, he wants more gold; the miller is looking for Rump; Rump is worried he will lead the miller to his aunts p.199
Chapter 26
- Summarize this chapter. The miller’s sons captured Rump; a gnome delivered the message that the queen had her baby; Rump was magically pulled to the kingdom to collect his bargain p.203
Chapter 27
- What did Rump learn in this chapter and do you think he’ll spin gold again? Why, or why not? The miller is the merchant who betrayed his mother; listen to your child’s answer
Chapter 28
- Why did Rump tell Opal that if she learned his name, it would break their bargain and she could keep her baby? it stopped her from crying p.227
Chapter 29
- Predict why Rump wants to take the miller’s sons to a “pile of gold”. The trolls will help Rump p.233
Chapter 30
- Why did Rump feel strong and powerful at the end of this chapter? He found his name; he had the power to untangle the rumpel p.243
Chapter 31
- Why couldn’t the miller touch the gold? He hadn’t kept his end of the bargain; he hurt Red and he said he said no harm would come to her p.249
Chapter 32
- What could Rump now control? The magic p.256
- What character development did Rump experience in this story? He found himself and his own power; he wasn’t a prisoner to magic any more
Epilogue
- Why was it so important to Rump that the Mountain have a name? Because names are powerful
- How did this story differ from the original fairy tale? Rump didn’t want the child; Rump went to the castle to help Opal; he was looking for his name; he only told Opal to guess his name to stop her from crying