Consider the people who support Ella in the novel. How does Ella overcome times of hardship? What does family mean to her? Are her friends and/or family members supportive? If so, how? Compare and contrast the novel with your response from the Personal Connection Prompt.

Teaching Suggestion: This Prompt invites students to re-evaluate their response to the Personal Connection Prompt in the context of the novel. In Ella Enchanted, family does not automatically equate to a supportive and loving environment. While Ella’s mother adored her daughter, her father and stepfamily are cruel, avoidant, and pejorative to Ella. In fact, Ella receives more support from her chosen family than her blood family; her fairy godmother Mandy steps in as a mother figure after Ella’s mother passes. Ella also possesses many friends who support her in difficult times, including acquaintances from many magical beings in the land. In the end, Ella learns that The Power of Family and Friendship is much more powerful than her curse, which she is able to break without Lucinda’s help by recognizing her true love for Char.

Differentiation Suggestion: For a structured oral discussion, the above Discussion/Analysis Prompt may be restructured into a debate where students must argue either for or against the following assertion: Ella is not well-supported by her family in the novel.