31 Selection Review #1 Chapters 1 9 1. Describe Beetle at the beginning of the novel. Beetle was a dirty, hungry, girl without a home or a name. She looked for shelter in dung heaps that warmed her from the cold, and she wandered from village to village in search of food. She was fearful and lonely. People ridiculed and mocked her wherever she went. In spite of this, she found ways to survive. 2. Why does the midwife ask Beetle to become her apprentice? Why doesn t she teach Beetle everything she knows about delivering babies? Jane, the greedy, unkind midwife, asks Beetle to work as her apprentice because she knows the girl is poor, alone, and homeless, and will work for very little. She also thinks that Beetle is too stupid and scared to be any competition. She does not want to teach Beetle everything about delivering babies because she does not want her to take over her job. 3. Describe the events that led to Beetle s decision to call herself Alyce. At the fair, Beetle learns that she is not as ugly or stupid as she thinks. A merchant winks at her and gives her a comb for her curls. He tells her that if she combs her hair, she will have a lover before nightfall. She is pleased to learn that the tangles in her hair are curls. She is also happy to know that she is pretty enough for someone to wink at her. Another man calls her Alyce and asks her to read. She discovers that she looks smart enough to be a person who reads. She decides that a pretty, smart person needs a better name than Beetle, so she begins to call herself Alyce. 4. Explain how Alyce is able to take advantage of the villagers superstitions about the devil. The villagers fear the night because they believe that it is when the devil walks about the village. Alyce has never been afraid of the dark. She is willing to run errands and carry messages at night. During her nightly travels, she sees people doing things they shouldn t do. She begins making devil-like footprints on the ground each evening. The priest follows the footprints. They lead to people doing something wrong, and he makes sure each person is punished. Alyce leads the priest to every person who has taunted her, so they are punished for their secret sins. 5. Tell of three incidents in which villagers show Alyce respect. Explain the reasons for each change of attitude toward Alyce. Will shows Alyce respect by calling her brave after she saves him from drowning. His respect is also seen in other incidents. For example, he asks for her help in delivering the calves, he boasts about her help to other villagers, and he calls her by her new name. The bailiff and his wife praise Alyce when she delivers their baby, and they even name the child after her. Many villagers start asking Alyce for advice because she has gained skills and learned information that is useful to them.
32 Selection Review #2 Chapters 10 17 and Author s Note 1. Explain why Alyce leaves the village and begins to work at the inn. Why is she unhappy there? Because of Alyce s success in delivering the bailiff s baby, she is asked to deliver another one. When she is not able to do it, she calls for Jane the midwife, who delivers the baby successfully. Alyce runs away because she believes she is a failure and can never be a midwife. She feels that she can do nothing and learn nothing and belongs no place. She is unhappy because of these feelings about herself and because she finds the work at the inn unsatisfying. 2. Why is it difficult for Alyce to help the woman in labor at the inn? Explain how the decision to help her is a turning point in Alyce s life. Alyce is frightened when a woman in labor arrives at the inn because the woman s difficult labor reminds her of her failure in the village. Though she holds back as others try to help the woman, she finally comes forward to offer her help. This decision is a turning point in her life because she shows that she is willing to risk failure to do what is right in spite of her fear. She also realizes how much satisfaction she takes in delivering babies. 3. Tell why Alyce is offered many jobs while at the inn. Why doesn t she accept any of them? When Alyce came to work at the inn she felt like a nobody with no place in the world. Jennet, Magister Reese, and the wealthy couple all like and admire Alyce for her skill and hard work. They are impressed by her success in delivering the wealthy woman s baby. Each offers her a job. Alyce turns down these offers because she realizes that she will not find satisfaction in the work. She is now certain that she wants to become a midwife. She decides to return to Jane Sharp, so that she can complete her training as an apprentice. 4. What does Alyce have to prove to Jane in order to become her apprentice once again? How does she prove it? In order to return to Jane as an apprentice, Alyce must show that she will not give up again. She proves it by refusing to leave when Jane does not accept her. Alyce insists that Jane take her back as an apprentice. She says that she will ask again and again until Jane accepts her. Alyce also tells Jane that she knows how to try and risk and fail and try again and not give up. Jane finally becomes convinced that Alyce won t give up again and opens the door to her. 5. State the novel s themes. is a coming-of-age story in which Alyce matures through her experiences. One of its theme can be stated, Every individual is valuable and can fulfill an important role in life. Alyce s experiences change her life. She learns that she is worthwhile and has a place in the world. Another theme can be stated, Taking risks and not succeeding does not make a person a failure. However, a person who never tries to meet a challenge is a failure. Alyce learns that she failed because she gave up. She learns that she has to be willing to take risks to succeed in life. She has to be willing to try again whenever she fails.
Name: 33 Literature Test #1 Chapters 1 9 1. Describe Beetle before she becomes a midwife s apprentice. 2. Tell how Alyce punishes those in the village who have been unkind to her. continued...
34 3. Explain why Beetle takes a new name after she attends the fair. 4. Why do many of the villagers change their attitude toward Alyce? Give three examples from the story that show this change.
35 Name: Literature Test #2 Chapters 10-17 and Author s Note 1. Explain why Alyce begins working at an inn. Tell how she feels about her new home and job. 2. Tell how Alyce s life is changed when a woman in labor arrives at the inn. continued...
36 3. Why doesn t Alyce accept any of the jobs offered to her by people at the inn? 4. Tell what Alyce has to do in order to be accepted again by Jane, the midwife.
Name: 37 Vocabulary Test #1 Chapters 1 9 WRITE SENTENCES FOR THE FOLLOWING WORDS: turmoil taunting accustomed frisky temporarily deceit reluctant preceded
38 Name: Vocabulary Test #2 Chapters 10-17 and Author s Note WRITE SENTENCES FOR THE FOLLOWING WORDS: compliant incompetence frail dread discontent stout excessive transformed