“The Prince and the Pauper”

6th grade textbook

1. List five facts you learned about the author Mark Twain.

• Mark Twain’s real name was Samuel Clemens, and he lived from 1835-1910.• He is one of “America’s greatest and most beloved writers.” (p. 345)• Twain lived with his family in Hannibal, Missouri near the Mississippi

River.• He wrote The Prince and the Pauper in 1882.

2. How does the author’s description of the anteroom contribute to the setting? What is in the anteroom? What is the setting?

• The anteroom is a waiting room in the palace. It lets the reader know the play is about royalty who live there.• In the anteroom, there is a couch with a “rich robe” on it and a “large

gold seal.” These things show the Prince’s wealth.• The setting of the play is in 1547 at the Westminister Palace, England.

3. How do the Prince and Tom first meet? How do Tom and the Prince “switch” places?

• The Prince and Tom meet when Tom is outside the palace hoping to get a glimpse of the Prince. The guard treats Tom harshly, and the Prince comes to his rescue.

• The boys wish they could experience a different life, so they trade clothing.

4. Identify the conflict that occurs after the boys trade places. What happened?

• Person vs Person conflict • Based on how he looks, the guard assumes that the real Prince is the

beggar and throws him out of the palace.

6. What do Hertford and the King assume has happened to the “Prince”?

• Hertford and the King assume that the Prince has “gone mad” because he insists that he is not the real prince. Tom Canty is telling them the truth, but they do not believe him.

7. How do the court pages (or servants) treat Tom? Cite text evidence to show Tom’s feelings.

• The court pages try to do everything for Tom. They serve him a cup of water, take his boots, remove his cape and gloves, and cover him with a robe.

• Tom feels like they would breathe for him if they could. Tom feels uncomfortable because they are doing so much for him that he could do for himself. He is not used to that kind of treatment.

8. How has Tom’s life completely changed at the end of Scene 1? Compare his life now to his life when we met him at the beginning of the play.

• Tom used to be mistreated and forced to beg for food, but now he is constantly respected and served by others because they think he is the Prince.

1. Who is Canty? Even though he was not present in Scene 1, what do you already know about him?

• Canty is Tom’s father. He is an abusive, rough man.

2. How has the Prince’s life completely changed at the end of Scene 2? Compare his life now to his life when we met him at the beginning of the play.

• Because he is wearing rags, no one believes the Prince is really who he says he is. • The Prince’s life is different because he is not having to beg for food

and suffer Canty’s abuse.

1. What happens in Scene 3 that causes the Prince to panic?

• In Scene 3, the Prince learns the King has died. The Prince is desperately trying to prove who he really is.

1. Who is Miles? Why is he important?

• Miles rescues the Prince from the angry villagers. He takes the Prince and gives him a place to stay.

2. In literature, irony is a contradiction between what happens and what is expected. What is ironic about Miles helping the Prince in this scene?

• It is ironic because Miles does not really believe the Prince is who he says he is. Miles pretends to go along with the Prince. • The Prince thinks that Miles does believe him.

1. How much time as passed between Scene 4 and Scene 5? Why is this significant? Think about what Tom has been experiencing and compare that to what the Prince has been experiencing.

• Two weeks have passed between Scene 4 and Scene 5. • Tom has been living a lavish life in the palace. The Prince has been

forced into a life of crime and suffering.

2. What is the Prince accused of doing in Scene 5? What really happened? • The Prince is accused of stealing from the woman. • Hugo, who is with Canty, steals the woman’s bundle and put it into

the Prince’s hands. The woman thinks the Prince stole from her.

1. How do the Constable’s actions help the Prince? What does Miles do?

• The Constable tries to buy the pig from the woman for the cheaper price. When she doesn’t agree, the Constable threatens to enforce the punishment. The woman sells the pig to the Constable for less than it was worth to save the young boy.• Miles overhears the conversation and tells the Constable he must let

the boy go or he will tell the Judge that he cheated the woman.

2. At the end of Scene 6, what still puzzles the Prince?

• At the end of Scene 6, the Prince is still confused because no one believes his true identity.

1. What happened when Miles and the Prince went to Kent?

• When Miles and the Prince go to Kent, Miles learns his brother has stolen his wife and his estate.

2. Who is Sir Hugh? Why is he important?

• Sir Hugh is Miles’s brother. He took Miles’s estate because he told everyone Miles was dead.

3. How has Miles’s life become similar to the Prince’s life?

• Miles’s life has become similar to the Prince’s life because no one believes Miles when he tries to tell them who he really is.

4. What does the Prince realize at the end of Scene 7?

• The Prince realizes the new king will be crowned the next day.

1. What surprises you about the beginning of Scene 8 when Tom sees the Prince?

• Tom tells the truth about who is the real Prince.

2. What evidence does Hertford use to determine if the Prince is telling the truth?

• Hertford asks the Prince to find the Great Seal of England. Hertford says it has been missing for weeks, and only the true Prince of Wales would know where it is.

3. How is Miles rewarded at the end of Scene 8?

• Miles is rewarded when the Prince calls him his trusty servant. The Prince allows Miles to stay with him.

4. What does the Prince promise to do? What has he learned from his experience that could be a possible theme for the play?

• The Prince promises to rule mercifully based on his experience as a poor person.

5. The play is based on a novel by Mark Twain. Think about the plot and characters. What aspects of this story make it well suited to be a play?

• Answers will vary.