Chapter: 03. The Witches
A. Choose the correct answer for these questions.
How did the narrator describe the outside world visible through the windows of his grandmother’s house? What was the first thing the narrator felt about his grandmother’s stories when she started talking about witches? The oil painting in the Christiansen family’s living room originally showed what? b. A flock of ducks on a grassy farmyard Before turning into granite, what happened to Harald’s skin? b. It became hard and crackly According to the grandmother, what is a common occurrence in Norway that makes them “used to that sort of thing”? c. Witches being everywhere B. Answer the following questions with reference to the context.
“You must listen to me,’ my grandmother said. ‘You must remember everything I tell you. After that, all you can do is cross your heart and pray to heaven and hope for the best.’”
a. What “everything” is the grandmother primarily referring to in this statement?
* The grandmother is referring to all the facts and dangers about witches that she is about to tell her grandson, specifically how they operate and what they do to children.
b. Why does the grandmother emphasize that listening and remembering are so crucial?
* She emphasizes this because she believes this knowledge is vital for the narrator’s survival and safety against the very real and present threat of witches.
c. What does “cross your heart and pray to heaven and hope for the best” suggest about the ultimate defense against witches?
* It suggests that while knowledge is important, the power of witches is so great that even with precautions, there’s a strong element of fate or divine intervention needed, implying limited control over their sinister magic. “She was standing in the farmyard in the act of throwing bread to the ducks out of a basket.”
a. Who is “she” in this sentence?
* “She” refers to Solveg Christiansen, the second child whose transformation the grandmother describes.
b. Where was “she” physically located when her father saw her in this pose?
* She was physically located inside the oil painting that hung in their living room, having become a permanent part of the picture.
c. What does this specific transformation imply about the witch’s power over reality and objects?
* This transformation implies that the witch has immense power to alter reality itself, not just transform a person but also integrate them into an inanimate object like a painting, making them a permanent fixture within its canvas. C. Think and Answer.
How does the narrator’s emotional state (grief from losing his parents) influence his openness to believe the grandmother’s stories, even though they are scary? Discuss how sadness might make someone more susceptible to strange tales. The narrator’s profound grief from losing his parents makes him emotionally vulnerable. In such a state, he might be more inclined to seek comfort and distraction, which the grandmother’s stories initially provide. Also, immense loss can make the world feel less predictable and safe, potentially opening one’s mind to other strange or frightening possibilities, like the existence of witches, that they might have dismissed before. The fantastic nature of the tales might offer an escape from his own painful reality, even as they introduce new fears. Discuss the grandmother’s role as a protector in this story. Is her method of telling frightening stories an effective way to protect her grandson? Why or why not? The grandmother acts as a protector by trying to arm her grandson with knowledge she believes is crucial for his survival in a world with witches. Her method of telling frightening stories is arguably effective because it immediately grabs the boy’s attention and makes the threat feel real, imprinting the dangers and warnings deeply into his mind. While terrifying, this fear might instill caution and make him wary of strangers, which is a key lesson for staying safe. However, it could also cause undue anxiety and nightmares in a young, impressionable child already processing immense grief. Choose one of the children’s transformations described in the story (Ranghild, Solveg, Birgit, Harald, or Leif). If you could give advice to that child before they encountered the witch, what would it be and why? (Example for Solveg): If I could give advice to Solveg, I would tell her, “Never, ever take anything from a stranger, especially food, no matter how nice they seem or how tempting the item is.” I would also tell her, “If someone you don’t know tries to talk to you or offer you something, run straight to the nearest adult you trust, like your parents or a teacher, and tell them immediately.” This advice would directly address how she was lured by the “nice lady” and the apple, which led to her peculiar transformation. 
Answer key