The Hundred Dresses

Use these essay questions as writing and critical thinking exercises for all levels of writers, and to build their literary analysis skills by requiring textual references throughout the essay.

Differentiation Suggestion: For English learners or struggling writers, strategies that work well include graphic organizers, sentence frames or starters, group work, or oral responses.

Scaffolded Essay Questions

Student Prompt: Write a short (1-3 paragraph) response using one of the bulleted outlines below. Cite details from the text over the course of your response that serve as examples and support.

1. In the face of teasing and bullying, Wanda continues to use her imagination with her classmates.

• How does Wanda use imagination to escape her reality? (topic sentence)
• How do Wanda’s peers respond to her imagination? Does this change at any point in the novel?
• What does Wanda’s situation suggest about the overall Power of Imagination?

2. Throughout the novel, Maddie and Peggy tease Wanda about owning one hundred dresses.

• Why do Maddie and Peggy think it is funny to make fun of Wanda? (topic sentence)
• Find 2-3 examples from the text where Maddie and Peggy rationalize their behavior.
• How do their actions fit the theme of The Damaging Effect of Bullying and Discrimination?

3. Maddie and Peggy know that they are hurting Wanda’s feelings with their “game,” but they do nothing to improve the situation.

• Why do Maddie and Peggy continue their “game” despite their guilt? (topic sentence)
• Find 1 example for each character that illustrates why they continue their game when they know they shouldn’t.
• How does Maddie’s guilt teach her about The Importance of Respect and Kindness?

Full Essay Assignments

Student Prompt: Write a structured and well-developed essay. Include a thesis statement, at least three main points supported by textual details, and a conclusion.

1. What does Jan Petronski’s letter to Wanda’s classmates reveal about the treatment of Polish immigrants in the United States during the early 20th century? How does Maddie and Peggy’s treatment of Wanda mirror some of these experiences? What was the likely purpose behind the letter?

2. Maddie is characterized as a kind and moral character despite failing to intervene in Peggy’s bullying behavior. How is this characterization achieved? How is Maddie’s character developed differently from Peggy’s character? Which character demonstrates more change throughout the story? Find examples to help support your thoughts.

3. Which character does Estes use to represent herself as a child? How so? Why might she have chosen this character to represent herself?