Ella Enchanted

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

What does it mean to be obedient? Is obedience always a good thing? How could obeying someone’s orders be more of a problem than a solution? Explain.

Teaching Suggestion: This question invites students to explore the novel’s central motif of obedience in relation to the themes of Magic, Romantic Love, and The Power of Family and Friendship. In Levine’s novel, the protagonist, Ella, is cursed with the power of obedience; although this was intended to be a “gift” from a fairy godmother, the reality is that people can force Ella to do whatever they please. As a result, Ella learns that obedience is not necessarily a positive attribute, as it robs her of her own interests, power, and agency. Despite these obstacles, Ella is a strong and independent protagonist who finds her own ways to rebel. The second resource may be used either in tandem with this question or with the Paired Text Extension to the main Activity.

• “Do You Want to Raise an Obedient Child?” from Psychology Today explores the downfalls of obedience.
• This lesson from the Kennedy Center includes learning objectives, resources, and materials for educators teaching the story of Cinderella.

Short Activity

This article explains that fairy tales are rooted in oral traditions. What popular fairy tales are you familiar with? Select one to share with the class. Does it have any themes related to Magic, Romantic Love, or The Power of Family and Friendship? If so, how? In your presentation, discuss the characters, setting, and plot, and include any relevant visuals.

Teaching Suggestion: This Short Activity invites students to explore the story structure of fairy tales in the context of a group activity. Providing a grading rubric in advance may help students understand expectations for the presentation.

• This compilation from American Literature includes a list of famous fairy tales and the appropriate age ranges for each one.
• This resource from the National Endowment for the Humanities includes lesson plans, guiding questions, and activities for educators teaching fairy tales.

Differentiation Suggestion: For an extended presentation exercise that includes further analysis, consider adding the following questions: Conduct some research about your chosen fairy tale. Has it been adapted into film and/or popular media? Was the storyline changed in any significant way between the original and the adaptation? If so, how?

Personal Connection Prompt

This prompt can be used for in-class discussion, exploratory free-writing, or reflection homework before reading the text.

Think of a difficult time in your life or a friend’s life when a family member or friend was there to support them. How did this person help? If a friend or family member were in a similar situation now, how would you help them? Why is it important to have someone to turn to in times of hardship?

Teaching Suggestion: This Personal Connection Prompt invites students to consider the theme of The Power of Family and Friendship within their own context. In the novel, Ella experiences a variety of obstacles; however, with the support of her blood family, friends, and chosen family, she is able to navigate these difficulties, break her curse, and reclaim her future. To help students generate ideas, consider creating a brief list of challenges the appropriate age group might have to overcome, such as illness, the loss of a pet, or moving to a new home.