Characters
What is Cinder’s job in the marketplace?
Cinder works as a mechanic, fixing androids and other machines.
What fairy tale is Cinder based on?
Cinderella.
POWER AND CONTROL: Who holds the most political power in the novel, and how does this affect Kai?
Queen Levana; she pressures Kai into a political marriage and threatens Earth with her control over Lunar forces.
How does Prince Kai first meet Cinder?
He brings his android, Nainsi, to her booth for repair.
“Do your kind even know what love is? Can you feel anything at all, or is it just…programmed?”
Adri
Who is Cinder’s closest friend (non-human) and companion, and what makes this friend unusual?
Iko, her android friend, who is unusual because she has a quirky, very “human” personality despite being a machine.
What does Cinder’s habit of hiding her cyborg parts (like wearing gloves) show about her character indirectly?
It shows her insecurity, shame, and fear of being judged for being different.
THE DANGERS OF TECHNOLOGY:
What does the plague research on cyborgs reveal about how technology is used in society?
Cyborgs are treated as expendable test subjects, showing how technology can dehumanise and exploit vulnerable people.
What happens to Peony soon after visiting the junkyard with Cinder?
She catches the plague (letumosis).
“You’re not human.”
Queen Levana
How does Prince Kai first meet Cinder?
Kai meets Cinder when he brings his android, Nainsi, to her booth for repairs.
What does Cinder’s mechanical foot symbolise in the story?
It symbolises her difference from others, her lack of freedom, and her struggle with identity.
PREJUDICE:
How does Adri’s treatment of Cinder reflect the novel’s theme of prejudice?
Adri constantly reminds Cinder she is “less than human” because she’s a cyborg, reflecting society’s bias and discrimination against those who are different.
Why does Adri volunteer Cinder for plague testing?
Because she sees Cinder as expendable and wants to get rid of her.
“You’re not the only one who has lost everything.”
Prince Kai
In what ways does Adri, Cinder’s stepmother, treat her differently from Pearl and Peony.
Adri treats Cinder cruelly — blaming her for Peony’s illness, forcing her to earn money for the household, and reminding her she’s “less than human.”
How does the plague-stricken setting of New Beijing contribute to the novel’s tension?
It creates fear and urgency, raises the stakes for characters, and mirrors Cinder’s personal sense of being “infected” or outcast in society.
POWER AND CONTROL:
How does Meyer use Queen Levana’s Lunar gift (her ability to manipulate people’s minds) as a symbol of control?
It symbolises the dangers of absolute power — Levana strips people of free will, showing how control can corrupt and oppress.
What secret does Dr. Erland reveal to Cinder about her identity?
She is Lunar, with hidden powers.
“Even if it was true. Even if you are a cyborg, you’re still the best mechanic I know.”
Iko
Explain why does Cinder hesitate to tell Prince Kai the truth about being a cyborg.
Because she fears rejection and believes he will see her as dangerous or unworthy, especially given the prejudice against cyborgs.
What is the technique - starting with C - that you would use to describe the different between Adri and Cinder?
Contrast
In what way is Cinder’s identity as a cyborg connected to both the dangers of technology and prejudice?
Her cyborg body represents society’s fear of technology “blurring” human identity, and people’s prejudice against her shows how fear can lead to discrimination and exclusion.
Who arrests Cinder at the royal ball, and on whose orders?
The royal guards arrest her on Queen Levana’s orders.
"Vanity is a factor, but it is more about control than beauty. She wants to be adored.”
Dr. Erland