Section I
What does it mean to be pre-chosen?
To have been chosen or marriage with sons of Jacob, other Commanders or their sons.
Who were keeping the little girls under their spell?
The wicked witches.
Where did they hide from the wicked witch who saw them leave?
A hollow tree.
What can we assume about the narrator’s social class?
She’s of high social status.
What differentiates the special girls from the ordinary girls?
Special girls wear pink, white and plum dresses and/or They learn petite-point embroidery and crochet work.
What do you need in order to become a mother?
A magic ring.
Why did Tabitha not carry her?
She would’ve coughed and alerted the witches.
In Fragment I, the narrator said she feared growing older and being married. In Fragment II, how does she describe her own situation regarding marriage?
She says she was “very, very chosen”: She’s already selected for a Commander.
How can ordinary girls be chosen later in life?
If they are “pretty enough”.
How did the ring look?
It was gold with three diamonds in it.
Why did the narrator think Tabitha was awaiting her answer?
Because she could hear her heart beating faster and faster.
What statement from fragment II can we assume is the reason for her fear of being married to “a goat on fire”?
“I had a dough face, like the cookies my favourite Martha, Zilla, made for me as a treat, with raisin eyes and pumpkinseed teeth.”
How does the narrator describe herself?
She is “unfinished”, has a dough face, raising eye and pumpkinseed teeth.
Why did Tabitha only rescue one girl?
The magic ring only has one wish in it.
Why did the narrator feel the story was true?
She had a vague memory of running through a forest holding someone’s hand.
In Fragment II, the narrator mentions being chosen by her mother, how does this connect to the theme of control and choices from Fragment I?
Aunt Estée said elders would wisely choose husbands for the girls. Adults make choices for the children.
What real-life injustices does the author seem to be alluding to?
Class division and beauty bias.
What did Tabitha call the finger she wore her ring in and which finger is it?
The heart finger, which is the middle finger.
What does the description of Tabitha imply?
That she is very ill.
How do both fragments show the connection between appearance and worth?
Fragment I shows that all girls were seen as dangerous temptations no matter their looks.
Fragment II shows that looks gave girls extra attention.