Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin

Despite Rump’s initial fear of trolls and the trolls’ distrust of humans, they soon become close friends. How does Rump’s friendship with the trolls develop the novel’s plot and themes?

Gold makes frequent appearances in the novel. What does the precious metal symbolize, and how does this symbol contribute to the plot and character development?

In what ways is Rump shaped by his struggle against fate? What obstacles does he face in this struggle, and how does he overcome them? How does this theme impact the story’s overall meaning?

Of all the friends that Rump makes in the novel, he is closest to Red. What is their relationship like, and how does their friendship affect both characters? How does Rump and Red’s friendship connect to the novel’s other major themes of courage and fighting fate?

Fairy-tale scholars, including Maria Tatar, have observed that the Brothers Grimm version of “Rumpelstiltskin” offers little in the way of a moral for children. What moral lessons does Shurtliff offer readers in her reinterpretation?

How does the apple tree symbolize the novel’s protagonist? How does this symbol contribute to the themes and plot?

How does the magical setting of The Kingdom contribute to the novel’s genre and the theme of fighting fate? How do Rump’s travels throughout this setting change him and contribute to the theme of the importance of courage?

Spinning wheels serve as a motif for the theme of fighting fate. How do Rump’s relationship with spinning and his beliefs about his destiny evolve over the course of the novel?