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Rumpelstiltskin: a book club kit
Where it comes from. Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, two brothers in Germany, wrote this down in 1812. Kids all over the world still love to say the little man's name.
In short (for the leader; it gives the ending away). A miller boasts that his daughter can spin straw into gold, and a greedy king locks her in a room full of straw. A little man spins it for her in return for her first baby. When she is queen and has a child, he gives her three days to guess his name. She guesses Rumpelstiltskin, and he storms away.
The lesson, in one line. A silly boast can cause a lot of trouble.
Reading plan, by the story's parts. Meeting 1: Part One, “Straw into Gold” and Part Two, “The Promise”, pages 1–9 (about 5 minutes aloud); Meeting 2: Part Three, “The Name”, pages 10–16 (about 4 minutes aloud). Each stop's own questions, which never give away what comes next: Rumpelstiltskin by chapter.
Questions to talk about
- What is the moral of Rumpelstiltskin?
The story's answer: A silly boast can cause a lot of trouble. The miller's bragging puts his daughter in danger, and she has to use her wits to get free. - Who wrote Rumpelstiltskin?
The story's answer: The Brothers Grimm, Jacob and Wilhelm, wrote it down in Germany in 1812. - What does the little man want from the queen?
The story's answer: He wants her first baby, because she promised it to him for spinning the straw into gold. He gives her three days to guess his name instead. - What happens when the queen guesses Rumpelstiltskin?
The story's answer: The little man is so furious that he stamps his foot through the floor, storms off and is never seen again. The queen keeps her baby. - Who in the story was kind, and who was not? How do you know?
Listen for: Ask for the moment in the story that shows it. - Which part would you change, and how would the story end then?
Listen for: There is no wrong ending; ask what else would have to change.
Did you know?
- The Brothers Grimm wrote it down in Germany in 1812.
- The little man's name is the whole secret of the story.
- The queen has three days to guess it, and the little man is sure that she never will.
Activity: Draw the story as a map
On one big sheet, draw every place the story happens and the path between them. Mark the spot where things go wrong and the spot where they come right.
More to talk about
More facts for the leader
- He is so angry that he stamps his foot through the floor.
Words to teach before you start
- boasted: bragged
- spool: thread holder
- greedier: wanting more
- messenger: news carrier
- shrieked: screamed
- huff: angry mood
Questions leaders ask
How long does a Rumpelstiltskin book club meeting take?
Reading it aloud takes about 9 minutes in all, so plan one meeting of 30 to 45 minutes, with time left for the questions. The reading plan on the sheet says where to stop.
What age is Rumpelstiltskin for?
It is written at Peabody level 9, a grade 4 reading level, so most children at that level can read it alone. Younger children can listen to it read aloud.
Do the children need to read it before the meeting?
No. Each child can read it free on Peabody, before the meeting or together at it, and the questions work either way. The sheet's short version gives the ending away, so keep it for the leader.
How do I use the questions?
Start with the story's own questions, which have answers in the leader's notes, then move to the open ones and listen for reasons. There is no wrong answer to an open question. Stop when the group runs out of things to say.
Club kits for stories like this
- Cinderella (level 9)
- Hansel and Gretel (level 9)
- Puss in Boots (level 9)
- The Brave Little Tailor (level 9)
- The Emperor's New Clothes (level 9)
- The Frog Prince (level 9)
How this kit is made
The short version, the facts and the first questions with their answers are the story's own, written for its page in Peabody's library and checked against the sources named there. The open questions, the activity and the plan are Peabody's, written for this kind of story. No part of it is written by a computer model.
Running the meeting: the meeting plans (30, 45 and 60 minutes) and the sign-up sheet.