Characters
Who is the main character?
Who is the little match girl?
What season does the story take place in?
Winter
What object gives the girl visions?
Matches
Why is the girl afraid to go home?
She sold no matches and fears punishment from her father.
What feeling is strongly shown throughout the story?
Sadness/loneliness
Who was the only person who loved the girl?
Who is her grandmother?
What holiday is being celebrated?
New Year’s Eve
What does the Christmas tree symbolize?
Hope, joy, happiness
What did the girl lose in the street?
Her slippers
What theme is shown through the girl’s suffering?
Poverty and neglect
Who takes the girl away at the end of the story?
Who is the grandmother?
Where does the girl sit to stay warm?
Between two houses/on a cold street corner
What does the falling star represent?
A soul going to heaven
What happens each time a match burns out?
Her visions disappear.
What theme connects to kindness and compassion?
People should care for others in need.
How do the people react to the girl the whole day?
They ignore her/no one buys matches.
What is the weather like during the story?
Snowy, freezing, dark
What does the stove symbolize in her vision?
Warmth, comfort, safety
What happens to the girl at the end?
She freezes to death.
What lesson does Andersen teach about society?
Society often ignores suffering and poverty.
Why is the grandmother important to the girl?
She represents love, comfort, and safety.
Why is the setting important to the mood?
It creates a sad and hopeless mood.
Why are the matches important to the story?
They represent hope and temporary escape from suffering.
Why does the girl light the whole bundle of matches?
She wants to keep her grandmother with her.
Explain one major theme using evidence from the story.
poverty and society’s neglect of the poor.