In A Glass Grimmly

Using the insights and observations made by the characters of In a Glass Grimmly, explore the difference between a youthful and adult view of life. How do children and adults see the world differently? What accounts for their different worldview? Use examples from the novel to support your ideas.

Why do you think Gidwitz included his narrator? How does the narrator influence the story experience? Would the story be more, less, or equally effective without a narrator? Support your answer with evidence from the text.

Analyze the goblin marriage test in Chapter 8. What does this test represent? Why does every goblin choose “death,” and what does this choice say about the test's fairness and the significance of beauty? Why is Jack the only person to recognize what is happening with the test, and what does this suggest about the goblins?

In Chapter 12, the narrator says all mirrors have magic because they let us see ourselves. Compare and contrast the Others and Jill’s mother to Jack and Jill. How does each group’s view of mirrors give the reflective glass power? Based on those differences, is seeing ourselves a good, bad, or neutral experience?

Discuss the significance of the Others being called “Others.” What does this name symbolize about their characters, both individually and as a unit? Since the Others influence Jack and Jill before their quest for the Seeing Glass, do the Others have control over the children, or do Jack and Jill choose not to take control over their situations? Support your answer with evidence from the text.

Examine how Gidwitz has integrated well-known fairy tales into In a Glass Grimmly. How does the novel maintain cohesion despite being made up of individual stories? What does the novel’s narrative structure suggest about the nature of storytelling?

In Chapter 5, when the fisherman rescues Jill from drowning, his net passes through the mermaids. Why can’t the net capture the mermaids? What role do the mermaids play for Jill and the village at large? How is the mermaids’ power reminiscent of the magic of traditional fairy tales?

Using examples from the text, analyze how Jill’s mother and Eddie illustrate the differences between external appearances and true character. How do Jill’s reactions to her mother and Eddie show the importance of looking past physical appearances?