| 1. | Why was Prince Julian so kind to Bella when they were children?
-think of the Kitty-Pair-of-Kitties story
-the Fairy Castle |
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| 2. | Why was Maud (Bella’s aunt) happy that her father did not want Bella back when she was small? |
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| 3. | Which life would you rather have – a pampered rich one, but you had to follow strict rules of conduct as determined by your father/husband
- or -
a poor, struggle-filled life as a peasant, but you had the freedom to make decisions and go have play adventures? Remember what a woman’s role used to be when you answer this one! |
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| 4. | Prince Julian pretends not to know Bella when she sees him at the fair. Have you ever done this or been on the receiving end? |
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| 5. | The beginning of the story provides some foreshadowing by the auntie and the foster mother. What did you think was going to happen after reading the beginning? Did you imagine this book would end the way it did? What surprised you? |
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| 6. | What elements from other fairy tales did you find in this story? Which do you like better – the fairy tale or Bella at Midnight? |
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| 7. | What do you think of Marianne’s feelings about a future husband (page 103)? What about her description of Richard?
How does it change after their betrothal is off (page 112)?
What do you think of Marianne in general?
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| 8. | What do you think is wrong with Alice after her father is lost at sea? What did it take for her to snap out of it? (page 170)
Have you ever had something similar happen where a significant even brought you out of a funk or a selfish spell? |
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| 9. | Would you have given Bella the ring your dead father gave you? What if it were the only thing you had left from him? |
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| 10. | Why do you think the people in the countries of Moranmoor and Brutanna think the way they do about each other? Can you compare it to prejudices we may have towards others – countries, nationalities, etc? |
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