Prologue-Chapter 1
What is located near the ash tree?
The spring
What did Mae place into her pocket?
Her music box
How old is Jesse (both ages)?
17 and 104
How long have the Tucks been the same age?
87 years
What did Jesse and Miles do as soon as they got to their home?
They jumped into the lake.
What is the purpose of a prologue?
It provides important background information that readers should know before the main story starts.
Why would Winnie like to have a sibling?
So her parents would not say Winnie's name so often. She wants someone to take her parents' attention off of her.
What does Winnie's grandmother think made the music in the woods? What did Winnie think?
Winnie's grandmother thought it was elves. Winnie thought it was a music box.
What are three things that happened to the Tucks that proved to them that they drank magical water from the spring?
1. Pa got snakebite
2. Jesse fell out of a tree
3. Mae cut her hand
4. Jesse ate poisonous toadstools
5. They carved a T in a tree that didn't change over the years
6. The horse got shot
7. The cat died
8. Angus shot himself
Who made Winnie feel like an unopened present?
Angus Tuck
What tranquil activity were the cows doing?
They were having bovine (cow) picnics.
What two things did Mae wear around her neck and chest?
A shawl and brooch
How is the description of the Tucks different than the description of the stranger? What does the author want us to think about the stranger?
The description of the Tucks is different because we get to know about their thoughts about their family and their lives. Their descriptions are much more gentle, even considering Angus' distaste for life. The stranger's description is very mysterious. Whether it be his appearance, which is very skinny and pale, or his behavior, which is very odd and chillingly polite, the reader is left wondering about this man. The author wants the reader to feel suspicious about the stranger.
What effect does the music box have on Winnie when Mae plays it?
The music box calms Winnie. It instantly makes her feel less anxious about her situation.
Name two jobs that both Jesse and Miles have during the ten years that they are away from their parents.
Jesse: worked in the fields and worked as a bartender
Miles: carpenter and blacksmith
What three events were mentioned in the prologue that seemed to have no connection? What time of day did each event occur?
Dawn - Mae went to meet her sons, like she does every ten years.
Noon - Winnie Foster contemplated running away.
Dusk - The stranger visits Winnie's fence.
Why was Angus upset about being awake?
He wanted to be back in his dream about heaven where he never heard of Treegap.
According to Winnie, how is the real world different than stories?
In stories, the characters always seemed to go off without a thought or care, but the real world is a dangerous place.
Why is Winnie reluctant to believe in the Tucks' story at first?
In chapter 8 Natalie Babbitt wrote, "Winnie did not believe in fairy tales. She had never longed for a magic wand, did not expect to marry a prince, and was scornful—most of the time—of her grandmother's elves. So now she sat, mouth open, wide-eyed, not knowing what to make of this extraordinary story."
How does the author make the Tucks' chairs look almost human to the reader?
Babbitt makes the chairs look like strangers at a party, avoiding each other. She does this by having the Tucks place their chairs facing in different directions.
What do the sun, the ferris wheel, the calendar, and the month of August all have in common?
They are hubs
What was painted onto the music box?
Roses and lilies of the valley
What was Jesse idly doing when Winnie first saw him?
He idly waved a twig between his toes as he sat alongside the tree. He yawned, stretched, and rubbed his ear.
Identify three of the random thoughts that went through Winnie's head when she was being kidnapped by the Tucks and laying across the back of their horse.
1. So this is what it's like to ride a horse
2. I was going to run away today anyway
3. What will they say when I'm not there for breakfast
4. I wish the toad could see me now
5. That woman is worried about me
6. Miles is taller than Jesse
7. I'd better duck if I don't want this next branch to knock me off.
What big difference did Winnie notice between the Tucks' house and the way that she was raised?
Winnie was taught to be extremely neat and clean, but the Tucks are very dirty people.