Use these essay questions as writing and critical thinking exercises for all levels of writers, and to build their literary analysis skills by requiring textual references throughout the essay.

Differentiation Suggestion: For English learners or struggling writers, strategies that work well include graphic organizers, sentence frames or starters, group work, or oral responses.

Scaffolded Essay Questions

Student Prompt: Write a short (1-3 paragraph) response using one of the below bulleted outlines. Cite details from the text over the course of your response that serve as examples and support.

1. A theme throughout the novel is What It Means to Be a Princess.

• What trait(s) does MacDonald suggest make(s) Irene a princess? (topic sentence)
• Identify at least 3 places in the text where MacDonald defines what it means to be a princess, and explain how Irene exhibits these traits through her personality and actions.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, examine how Irene’s princess-like qualities make her a good role model for readers.

2. The relationship between Curdie and Irene develops in ways that cause each to grow.

• What kind of friendship do Curdie and Irene have, and how does it change by the novel’s conclusion? (topic sentence)
• Detail at least 3 places in the book where Curdie and Irene interact, how these interactions unfold, and what they learn about themselves and each other as a result.