ENGLISH_ THE HUNDRED DRESSES PART 2

Questions from the textbook.

Thinking about the Text

1.     Why do you think Wanda’s family moved to a different city? Do you think life there was going to be different for their family?

Wanda’s family moved to a different city due to the racism and the humiliation Wanda and her brother suffered at school. They were teased by other students for their funny names and old clothes. Life was definitely going to be different in a different city because people there would not have a narrow mindset and would not tease them because of their name or status.

2.     Maddie thought her silence was as bad as Peggy’s teasing. Was she right?

Yes, Maddie thought that her silence was as bad as Peggy’s teasing because it is often said that turning a blind eye to a crime is worse than committing a crime. So by being silent she indirectly encouraged Peggy to tease her.

3.     Peggy says, “I never thought she had sense to know we were making fun of her anyway. I thought she was too dumb. And gee, look how she can draw!” What led Peggy to believe that Wanda was dumb? Did she change her opinion later?

Wanda never reacted to Peggy‘s misbehaviour towards her. This unusual behaviour led Peggy to think that Wanda was dumb. Furthermore, Wanda spoke of having hundred dresses in her closet when in reality she wore the same old faded blue dress every day. But later Peggy’s opinion changed after looking at Wanda’s sketches and Wanda’s gesture of gifting her and Maddie beautiful drawings from her collection.

4.     What important decision did Maddie make? Why did she have to think hard to do so?

Maddie decided to go to Wanda’s house with Peggy to apologise and amend for all that had happened but Wanda had left the house with her family. She felt bad because she thought of herself as a coward who did not stop Peggy from insulting Wanda. So, she decided to raise voice against injustice and bullying. She was firm of not being a mute spectator anymore.

5.     Why do you think Wanda gave Maddie and Peggy the drawings of the dresses? Why are they surprised?

Maddie and Peggy had written a letter to Wanda. Though it was friendly letter, Wanda must have understood the feelings behind their letter. Therefore, Wanda’s request that two of her drawings be given to Maddie and Peggy could be her way of telling them that she had forgiven them that she had forgiven and forgotten. When Maddie and Peggy did not receive a reply to their letter for a long time, they felt that perhaps Wanda was still hurt and angry. Therefore, they were surprised when they came to know that Wanda had asked Miss Mason to give those two of her drawings in which the girls looked liked Peggy and Maddie.   

6.     Do you think Wanda really thought the girls were teasing her? Why or why not?

Wanda was aware of the misbehaviour of the girls who teased her everyday but she remained calm. To stop them from teasing her, she exaggerated and told them that she hundred dresses and sixty pairs of matching shoes in her closet.