Tag Archives: Folktale

Comprehension Questions – (Fairly) True Tales Series Grump The (Fairly) True Tale of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves

Grump

The (Fairly) True Tale of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves

by Liesl Shurtliff

Grades 3-7; Genre - Fables/Fairy Tales; GRL O; AR pts. 10.0

Ever since he was a dwarfling, Borlen (nicknamed "Grump") has dreamed of visiting The Surface, so when opportunity knocks, he leaves his cavern home behind.

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. Describe Borlen and his background. A dwarf; born underground, but close to The Surface; ate common rocks and minerals instead of gems; named Borlen after the rocks surrounding the area he was born; fearful of going deeper underground and desires to go to The Surface, but his parents don’t want him to p.1

Chapter 2

  1. Summarize this chapter. Borlen’s mother took him to the nursery mines and asked other dwarflings to play with him; one crew did, but they bossed him around; Borlen found a baby bat and took care of it; they explored the caverns looking for a tunnel to the surface; Borlen’s parents signed him up for a crew because he kept trying to escape to The Surface p.10

Chapter 3

  1. Describe the ceremony Borlen and the other dwarflings went through in this chapter. They lined up, received an axe, used the axe to mine their Fate Stone and were given a crew to work with

Chapter 4

  1. How did Rudger treat Borlen and Gilpin? He was mean and teased them p.45

Chapter 5

  1. How is Gilpin a good friend to Borlen? He made him a bed, smiled at him p.56

Chapter 6

  1. Summarize how Borlen made it to The Surface? The crew found they were digging close to The Surface; Borlen suggested he continue digging there while the rest of them dug deeper; Borlen secretly dug upward until he broke through p.63

Chapter 7

  1. Describe how Borlen got in trouble in this chapter. He enjoyed being on The Surface and ran and fell, causing two human children to see him, they chased him, and he got away, the queen came in a carriage and was wearing a ruby on her forehead, Borlen followed the queen into the castle p.73

Chapter 8

  1. Summarize this chapter. Borlen watches as the queen and her advisor talk about the kingdom and her plans; she finds out her advisor betrays her so she turns him into a weasel; she looks into her mirror and sees Borlen p.78

Chapter 9

  1. Using descriptive words, compare the queen in chapters 8 and 9. 8: mean, harsh, impatient.

9: kind, warm, friendly p.85

Chapter 10

  1. How did the queen convince Borlen to stay above ground? He’s not happy underground and he’s valued on The Surface p.102

Chapter 11

  1. How did the queen trick Borlen? She cried and acted sad until he offered to let her use his mirror p.109

Chapter 12

  1. Is the queen a good person? Why, or why not? No, she throws innocent girls into the dungeons and planted a poisonous apple tree; she’s manipulative p.115

Chapter 13

  1. Summarize what happened at the ball. Borlen sat next to the queen in Snow White’s seat; Borlen received rubies as gifts and ate them all feeling euphoric; he sang then started to tell the queen about humans who grab dwarves by the beard; he spies on Snow White; Borlen told the queen Snow White is the prettiest human he’d ever seen p.120

Chapter 14

  1. Why is Borlen horrified at the end of this chapter? The queen grabbed him by the beard and now he’s bound to do everything she commands p.135

Chapter 15

  1. Why is Borlen nervous Snow White is in the tunnel?  A human inside the dwarf caverns will make the other dwarves unhappy and scared p.146

Chapter 16

  1. Summarize this chapter. Snow White wanders to the dwarves sleeping quarters and Borlen follows; he looks in the mirror and sees the huntsman giving the queen the boar heart; Snow White and Borlen fall asleep p.147

Chapter 17

  1. How did the dwarves find themselves on The Surface? Snow hit the ceiling of the cave with the axe and it was starting to collapse, so they escaped to The Surface p.159

Chapter 18

  1. Why did the dwarves decide to let Snow and Borlen stay with them? They had compassion on Snow; didn’t know how to get back into the caverns and now Snow knew where the caverns were p.169

Chapter 19

  1. Describe the evening with Snow White. She was bossy regarding the cottage and food; she didn’t like food that was prepared so Borlen went to find her some; she still didn’t like the food; she took their beds, and they slept on the floor p.173

Chapter 20

  1. Why didn’t Borlen want the ruby Snow White offered him? The queen had used rubies to get him to do what she wanted, and he didn’t want to be manipulated again p.196

Chapter 21

  1. Describe how Snow White is a good friend. She’s kind; likes Borlen for who he is; a good listener; ready to give her life for Borlen; is humble p.202

Chapter 22

  1. Was it wise for Borlen to not tell the prince or Snow White about each other? Why, or why not? Listen to your child’s answer p.211
  2. Predict what you think will happen now that the queen sees Borlen in the mirror. Listen to your child’s answer p.219

Chapter 23

  1. Summarize this chapter. Borlen’s stone showed the queen where Snow was; Snow was sick and Borlen tried to help her feel better; they played a game and the queen disguised as an old woman arrived at the cottage p.30

Chapter 24

  1. Explain why Borlen’s heart was “in the deepest depths of despair“. He felt at fault for killing Snow White p.232
  2. Do you agree with him? Listen to your child’s answer

Chapter 25

  1. Summarize this chapter. Borlen lived in a cavern by himself during the winter; taking care of Leaf kept Borlen alive; someone left gems for Borlen; the trolls escaped the queen and found him, bringing him his fate stone p.234

Chapter 26

  1. Predict Borlen’s plan. Listen to your child’s answer; ask about the queen and what new beginnings might happen for Borlen p.249

Chapter 27

  1. How did Borlen find the prince and convince him to help him? A young maiden grabbed him by the beard and commanded her take a message to Florian; people then told him where to find him; Borlen told Florian someone brave and strong needed to help Snow White and that she spoke highly of him p.256

Chapter 28

  1. Describe Florian. He’s a prince, is a good friend to Snow White, wants to be brave and courageous, but is afraid; his father banished him from home since he’s not very brave; is a worrier
  2. Do you think Snow will wake up now that Florian kissed her? Listen to your child’s answer

Chapter 29

  1. Why is Florian surprised when Snow woke up? She was grumpy and hungry; she didn’t seem pleased at all p.272

Chapter 30

  1. How did Borlen save Snow White? The ruby he threw at the apple is what kept her alive when she bit into the apple; it was his idea to make the queen turn herself into a rat p.284

Epilogue

  1. What did you like about this story. Explain.  Listen to your child’s answer

Comprehension Questions – (Fairly) True Tales Series Red The (Fairly) True Tale of Red Riding Hood

Red

The (Fairly) True Tale of Red Riding Hood

by Liesl Shurtliff

Grades 6-8; Genre - Fable/Fairy Tales; GRL W; AR pts. 8.0

Followed by a wolf, a huntsman, and a porridge-sampling nuisance called Goldie, Red embarks on a quest to find a magical cure for her ailing grandmother.

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. Describe Red’s background. She has a grandma who’s a witch; her granny tried to teach her magic, but Red permanently hurt her granny so she never wanted to do magic again p.1

Chapter 2

  1. Summarize this chapter. Red went to her granny’s house, and on the way, she saw a wolf; a huntsman shot at the wolf and scared him away; when Red arrived at her granny’s, the wolf was there dressed up as her p.9

Chapter 3

  1. Why is granny dressed up as a wolf? To scare people away from the cottage p.16
  2. Why is Red concerned at the end of this chapter? Her granny is sick and that is unusual p.22

Chapter 4

  1. Why is Red hesitant to make the Curious Cure-All recipe? She doesn’t want to gather the ingredients; Pixie venom, tree-nymph wings, wolf hairs p.24
  2. Explain how Red came upon her red cloak? Her Granny gave it to her; she wore it when she was a young girl p.26

Chapter 5

  1. How many ingredients did Red find in this chapter? One, Pixie venom p.31

Chapter 6

  1. Describe Goldie. She’s nosy and gets into other people’s business; has golden hair; the same age as Red; new to The Mountain p.35
  2. What fairytale is she from? The three bears 

Chapter 7

  1. Summarize this chapter. Red tried to get rid of Goldie, but couldn’t; Red looked for a gnome to send a message to her parents; Goldie thought she found a gnome, but it was a dwarf p.46

Chapter 8

  1. What advice did Goldie give Red and how did she respond to it? She needed to practice her magic to get better at it; Red was angry p.63

Chapter 9

  1. Do you think the wolf will be a friend or foe to Red? Why? Listen to your child’s answer

Chapter 10

  1. What did Red learn about Goldie in this chapter? Her mom doesn’t love her anymore since there’s no gold in The Mountain p.78

Chapter 11

  1. Describe how Red and Goldie are becoming friends? They help each other; laugh together; have fun together; protect each other p.80
  2. Name a friend you have and describe your friendship. Listen to your child’s answer

Chapter 12

  1. Why didn’t Red want Goldie to drink the wine? She’d lose her memories p.93

Chapter 13

  1. Explain what it means to get a dose of your own medicine? To receive treatment for how you treated someone p.98
  2. How was Red a good friend to Goldie? Goldie lost her memories and Red stayed with her, trying to help her p.98

Chapter 14

  1. Why is Red so worried that Goldie let a Sprite take her hand? She would be dragged to the bottom of the river and die p.110

Chapter 15

  1. What was strange about Horst’s behavior? He pushed a tall tree over to cross the river p.119

Chapter 16

  1. How did Red hide Wolf from the huntsman? Put clothes on him and said he was her Granny p.121

Chapter 17

  1. Describe Borlen. Dwarf; Grumpy; loves rubies; Main character in the book, Grump p.132

List two magical properties the cloak has. Completely protects from the elements, protects from feeling things fall on her, protects from the sprites 

Chapter 18

  1. List what happens in this chapter that reminds you of The Three Bears story. Goldie tries all the food and eats the one she likes best, she sits in all the chairs and lays in all the beds to find the one she likes best p.144

Chapter 19

  1. Summarize this chapter. Borlen took Red, Goldie and Wolf to the castle with the roses, Red found the red roses and picked one; the gargoyles came to life and attacked; a beast captured Red and Goldie p.152

Chapter 20

  1. Describe the castle. Magical, does everything and provides everything the Beast needs p.169

Chapter 21

  1. How is the castle pranking the girls? It made completing the tasks the beast wanted difficult p.177

Chapter 22

  1. Why is Red bothered in this chapter? Her granny is the enchantress that turned the princess into the beast p.192

Chapter 23

  1. What has Red been running away from and finally learned in this chapter? Red can’t stop Granny from dying; she needs to stop fearing p.198

Chapter 23

  1. Why is Horst trying to kill the girls at the end of this chapter? Red wouldn’t let him have Wolf p.212

Chapter 24

  1. Read the last sentence in this chapter out loud. What does it mean? Horst sought a heart to give him life, but Red was filled with magic which protected her and destroyed him p.222

Chapter 25

  1. What did Red learn in this chapter? She can do magic correctly; she created her own path in the forest; fear made her path dim, fear is what interferes with magic p.232

Epilogue 

  1. What did you enjoy about this story? Listen to your child’s answer

Comprehension Questions – When You Trap a Tiger

When You Trap a Tiger

by Tae Keller

Contains a subtle non-graphic LGBTQ+ theme at the end of the story.

Grades 4-7; Genre - Fiction; GRL V; AR pts. 8.0

When Lily and her family move in with her sick grandmother, a magical tiger straight out of her halmoni's Korean folktales arrives, prompting Lily to unravel a secret family history. Long, long ago, Halmoni stole something from the tigers. Now they want it back. And when one of the tigers approaches Lily with a deal--return what her grandmother stole in exchange for Halmoni's health--Lily is tempted to agree. But deals with tigers are never what they seem! With the help of her sister and her new friend Ricky, Lily must find her voice...and the courage to face a tiger. The plot contains a lesbian element.

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. How does this sorry begin? Lily, Sam and their mom are driving from California to Washington state to live with their grandma (halmoni); their father has passed away; Sam and their mom fight a lot and Sam didn’t want to leave California; it’s raining; Lily feels invisible p.1

Chapter 2

  1. What’s a good memory Lily has of her halmoni? Listening to her stories p.9

Chapter 3

  1. Why is Sam difficult? She doesn’t seem to like anything; she’s angry and critical; she rocks the boat in their family; she’s selfish p.18

Chapter 4

  1. Explain what kosa is? A Korean tradition; lay food out for the ones who’ve gone before p.30
  2. Why does Halmoni hiss when Lily tells her about the tiger? She believes the tiger is coming to get her because she stole something from them p.33

Chapter 5

  1. Summarize the story in this chapter. Two little girls lived with their halmoni; the halmoni went to the village and bought rice cakes but a tiger came, ate her and pretended to be the halmoni; the girls opened the door to the tiger and the tiger chased them; the sky god made one the sun and the other the moon; the younger sister was first the moon but didn’t like being stared at, so the older sister who was the sun traded her p.36

Chapter 6

  1. Why was the main character confused? Her halmoni told her the basement had been flooded, but she found it wasn’t true; she found her halmoni throwing up p.43

Chapter 7

  1. Why did Lily feel like a bad granddaughter? She didn’t jump in to help Halmoni when she was throwing up p.46

Chapter 8

  1. What did Halmoni steal? The stars; the bad stories p.50

Chapter 9

  1. Why is Lily anger at her mom? She doesn’t know the real Lily p.58

Chapter 10

  1. Describe Jensen. A girl around Sam's age; works at the library; optimistic and friendly; accepting and tries to be helpful p.63

Chapter 11

  1. Who did Lily run into at the library? Describe him. A boy named Ricky who’s friendly and being tutored by Jensen p.70

Chapter 12

  1. How does Sam feel about Halmoni? She loves her but thinks she’s crazy p.82
  2. What advice does Halmoni give Ricky’s dad? During hard times family should come together p.88

Chapter 13

  1. What does Lily mean, when she thinks, “it’s ok, I’ll be the moon”? Lily wants her sister to comfort and help her like the older sister did in the story in chapter 5 p.92

Chapter 14

  1. Do you think Lily should have made the deal with the tiger? Listen to your child’s answer p.98

Chapter 15

  1. What illness does Halmoni have? Brain cancer p.103
  2. Why is Lily hopeful that Halmoni can be cured? She thinks the tiger can cure her p.105

Chapter 16

  1. What do Ricky and Lily agree to in this chapter? To build a tiger cage/trap p.115
  2. Why is Sam mad? Lily ran out when they were talking p.116

Chapter 17

  1. What does it mean when the author describes someone as “sticky“? People are attracted to them; they’re likable and make friends easily p.117
  2. What does Lily struggle with? Her self-esteem p.117

Chapter 18

  1. What is significance of the jars? Halmoni put the star stories into them p.130

Chapter 19

  1. What makes Ricky worried that Lily thinks he’s stupid? She got frustrated at him when he brought up his comic book stories p.132
  2. What will Lily use as bait? The jars p.137

Chapter 20

  1. Using two examples, list how Sam and Lily remember the story differently. Sam- sees it from the eyes of the protective older sister, Lily- sees it through the eyes of the younger sister and that they're going through the trial together; Sam- the older sister is supposed to protect her younger sister and instead puts her in danger of the tiger; Sam- the older sister opened the window, Lily- the younger sister opening the door; Sam- a sad story, Lily- a happy story; Sam- the sisters are alone and can only wave to each other across the sky, Lily- the sisters are safe and escape the tiger forever p.141

Chapter 21

  1. What bargain did Lily accept from the tiger? The tiger will heal Lily’s halmoni if she returns the stories and listens to them p.147
  2. Do you think this will heal Halmoni? Listen to your child’s answer

Chapter 22

  1. What does it mean when the tiger said, “there are consequences to telling the truth”? Telling the truth is good, but bad things can come along with p.155

Chapter 23

  1. What’s Alzheimer’s disease? A progressive disease that destroys memory and other important mental functions.
  2. Why did the server think Halmoni has Alzheimer’s? Halmoni forgot where she was and what they were doing p.164

Chapter 24

  1. Describe the drive home from the restaurant. Sad; mom explained the doctor doesn’t know how long Halmoni will live, so they want to make the best of what they have p.169

Chapter 25

  1. Describe Lily’s experience at Ricky’s house. Her mom knows his dad; he lives in a mansion; she and Ricky make their own rendition of rice cakes p.173

Chapter 26

  1. What are the sisters doing in this chapter? They both have something separate they’re doing but promise not to tell on each other; Lily is going down the stairs to the tiger and Sam is going down the rope outside p.182

Chapter 27

  1. What happened in the story and what was Lily’s reaction? It was a continuation of the first story; the granddaughter was still cursed being half human, half tiger; she turned into a tiger and ran away; the halmoni looked everywhere for her and filled jars with love; she released a jar into the ocean each full moon; she feels a connection to the granddaughter p.186

Chapter 28

  1. How does Lily’s mom try to comfort her? She hugs her; they share a late-night snack; tells her she wishes she could protect her p.193

Chapter 29

  1. List two similarities between the story and what’s going on at Lily’s home? The pendant, the white streak, Halmoni thinking her granddaughter’s a tiger p.199

Chapter 30

  1. Why does Lily feel betrayed by Ricky? He didn’t defend her Halmoni and told his friends about her sickness p.209

Chapter 31

  1. What did the tiger mean when she said, “it seems you have a tiger side after all”? She’s got a wild side, tricking Ricky p.214

Chapter 32

  1. Why is Lily’s mom upset that she put mud in Ricky’s pudding cup? Ricky’s dad offered her a job; it wasn’t nice of her to do p.219

Chapter 33

  1. Why isn’t the tiger in the basement? Lily told her to leave her alone p.227

Chapter 34

  1. How does Ricky respond to Lily’s apology? He apologizes for saying mean things about Halmoni p.232

Chapter 35

  1. Why is it important for Halmoni to tell Lily her sad stories? People can’t bury the past, we need to know what happened to learn and be better p.241
  2. Why has Halmoni given up? She’s at peace with dying and knows it’s her time p.244

Chapter 36

  1. Summarize this chapter. Lily goes back to the attic, Sam comes in the window; Lily throws the jars against the wall and they shatter; she’s wondering if she’s imagined everything p.245

Chapter 37

  1. Describe the imagery the author uses to describe how Lily’s feeling when she smashed the blue jar. The explosion made a supernova of Lily’s emotions; anger, fear, lost hope p.249

Chapter 38

  1. Why does Sam think it’s her fault that Halmoni’s going to the hospital? She said she hoped Halmoni would die soon p.253
  2. What’s Sam been doing to show she still believes? Scattering rice outside p.253

Chapter 39

  1. Do you agree with Lily? Are stories meant to be told? Listen to your child’s answer p.257
  2. Predict what you think Lily’s idea is. Listen to your child’s answer p.258

Chapter 40

  1. Why did Lily break into the library? To find the tiger and ask for her magic p.262

Chapter 41

  1. Who is the tiger? Halmoni’s mom p.268

Chapter 42

  1. What has Halmoni been scared of her entire life? The tiger inside of her p.270
  2. How has this hurt her? She doesn’t see the love around her and doesn’t realize she can be both the tiger and the human p.270

Chapter 43

  1. How does the story Lily told reflect her relationship with Sam? It tells of the journey they’ve been on as sisters and that they’re not alone p.276

Chapter 44

  1. How did the stories save Halmoni? They reminded her that she could be anything and that she was everything to her family p.278

Chapter 45

  1. What connection does Halmoni have to the library? It was one of her projects; she painted it and added cheesy posters p.282

Chapter 46

  1. Describe how this story ends. The bake sale turned into a kosa for Halmoni; Joe forgives Lily; Sam and Jensen are a couple; Ricky passed his language arts test and will be in the same grade as Lily; Sam asks Lily to tell her a story p.283