Summer Reading Assignment for English I Honors
Essay Choices to consider for THE PRINCESS BRIDE as the summer reading
assignment for English I H
Summer 2013
Use one of the topics listed below as the premise for a fully developed formal essay. Your essay must
be typed, double spaced, size 12 font. Your work must have an MLA heading. This essay will be due
on the first day of school, though you may email it me during the summer should you finish it before
the due date. I will monitor my school email as often as possible, so please feel free to contact me at:
[email protected]. Late papers will NOT be accepted.
When analyzing fairy tales, Vladimir Propp states that there are seven possible character functions in
fairy tales. These are:
a)
The villain
b)
The donor (the provider of magic and magical potions)
c)
The helper
d)
The prince or princes (or sought-for person) and her father
e)
The dispatcher
f)
The hero
g)
The false hero
Write an essay of The Princess Bride based on one of the following prompts; use
as many of the above functions found in this story as they apply to your choice
of topic.
1.
How are the relationships in this story used to serve as motivational factors for the characters
to continue their journeys? (i.e. Buttercup/Westley; Inigo/his father).
2. What characteristics about Westley cause Inigo and Fezzik to be drawn to him as allies, as
opposed to the enemies they were during their first encounter?
3.
In the end, is it really true love that conquers all? Explain your answers using events from the
book to support your position.
THE PRINCES BRIDE: Guided Summer Reading Questions
(to be answered as the reading progresses; please bring to school on the first day)
Parts 1-4
1.
What is the relationship between Simon Morgenstern and William Goldman?
2.
What makes Buttercup realize that she loves Westley?
3.
What is the relationship between the countries of Florin and Guilder?
4.
What is Prince Humperdinck seeking?
5.
What is the zoo of death?
Part 5
6.
For whom is Inigo Montoya looking?
7.
How does the man in black get past Fezzick on the Cliffs of Insanity?
8.
What happens to the Sicilian?
9.
What is the Fire Swamp?
10. How does Buttercup discover that the man in black is Westley?
11. Who is waiting at the other end of the swamp?
Part 6
12. What is Count Rugen’s “machine”?
13. Who is the albino and what does he do?
14. What is the brute squad?
15. Who is Yellin?
Part 7
16. Where does Fezzik find Inigo?
17. What has Prince Humperdinck been doing with Buttercup’s letters?
18. How do Fezzik and Inigo find Westley?
19. To whom do they take Westley so he can be brought back to life?
20. How does Inigo trick Fezzik into continuing through the Zoo of Death?
21. How do they succeed in getting trough the castle gates?
Part 8
22. What kills Count Rugen?
23. When does Westley finally come back to life?
24. What does Fezzik do when he thinks for himself?
25. How do Inigo, Fezzik, Westley, and Buttercup get past the Brute Squad to escape from the castle?