Novel Study: 'Beauty' by Robin McKinley

I sat on my bed and looked out at the quiet woods, black and silver in snow and moonlight, and serene. There was nothing watchful or brooding about that stillness; whatever secrets were hidden in that forest were so perfectly kept that their existence could not be suspected nor even imagined by any rational faculty.’

‘Beauty’ is a retelling of the classic fairy tale ‘Beauty and the Beast’. Written in 1978 and widely considered to be a classic, the novel is an excellent choice for readers in the 12-13 age group. Written in an easy, polished style, it is the sort of book that one reads more than once to relish the vivid characters, tantalizing details and satisfying plot. The carefully-crafted embellishments are all solidly founded on European history and folktale ‘magic’.

In this file you will find plenty of material to make the novel into an enjoyable literature unit! Included here are:

· Detailed instructions for how to proceed

· Thoughtful written response questions, one for each of the ten chapters. Some of these include additional materials such as a painting or poem, which are included (Please note: this portion of the file is identical to the ‘Reading Comprehension: Beauty’ resource)

· ‘History and Culture’ Topics. Choose from four topics to explore with further reading and writing assignments (all materials are included): ‘Griffins’, ‘Enchanted Forests’, ‘The Rose’ and ‘The Great Horse’.

· Simple versions of the original folktale in English and in French

· Bonus assignments (essay writing, further research, Beauty’s Reading List, cake-baking, etc.)

Please note, the novel must be purchased separately.