No Crown for Me: Story Analysis with Questions
Story Summary
The story, No Crown for Me, is about a little girl named Susan. One day her friends ask her to go out to play with them. She has been given a lot of work to complete by her grandmother and tells them she cannot go. They tease her and leave. She looks at the item she is sewing or knitting and thinks to herself that if she just moves the marker her grandmother will not know she did not do the number or rounds she was supposed to have completed before leaving. She moves the marker and takes the item to her grandmother, telling her she is finished with her work. Her grandmother looks at the item and agrees with her that there are 20 completed rounds after the marker. Although she finished her work quicker than she usual finished, Susan’s grandmother said that Susan had never deceived her before and so she could leave. Susan walks to catch up with her friends but feels bad about not being truthful with her Grandmother.
When the other two girls see Susan, they tease her again, asking her why she has left her Grandmother so soon. Susan replies that nothing is wrong, but inside she feels that everything is wrong remembering what her grandmother had said about deceit and how Susan had lied to her. Susan is unable to have any fun with her friends as she thinks about what she told her grandmother and how her grandmother will never trust her again if she knew. Her two friends decide to make a flower crown out of violets which will be awarded to the best little girl. One of the girls says it will be hard to decide who is the best little girl of the three of them but the other girl says it will not be hard, since everyone knows that Susan is the most obedient of the three and she behaves the best at school. However, when they try to put the crown on Susan’s head, she flings it to the ground saying “No crown for me,” since she feels she does not deserve it. She then runs home to confess to her grandmother.
At home Susan tells her grandmother that she had moved the marker to be able to leave early. Her Grandmother tells Susan that she knew all along and did not say anything, hoping that Susan would admit it. Susan worries that her grandmother will not care about her for a while but her Grandmother tells her that is not the case.
New Vocabulary Words
Tiresome – making someone feel bored or annoyed
Tauntingly – in a playful, joking, teasing manner
Altered – to change something
Pre-Reading Questions
When, if ever, do you think it is okay to lie? (Evaluative)
Can you think of something you have done in the past that you felt really bad about? (Synthesis)
What does it mean to “deceive” someone? (Knowledge)
During Reading Questions
Why does Susan throw down the crown? (Comprehension)
Why did Susan lie to her Grandmother? (Analysis)
What type of flower was used to make the flower crown? (Knowledge)
After Reading Questions
How was Susan different from the other two girls? (Comprehension)
How else could Susan have solved the problem she had with her Grandmother? (Synthesis)
What was this story mainly about? (Comprehension)
