The Midwife’s Apprentice by Karen Cushman “Winner of the 1996 John Newbery Award”

Study Guide

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Introduction to Students This study guide is to help you as you read the book. At the end are character biographies for you to fill out. You have been given two characters. Please make sure that you read the book well. This guide took a long time to complete in order to help you with the book. Notes & Information Karen Cushman Karen Cushman was born in Chicago, Illinois (October 4, 1941). After graduating from high school she went to Stanford and graduated in 1963 with a B.A. in English and Greek. She received further degrees in 1977 (M.A. Human Behavior) from United States International University and in 1986 (M.A. Museum Studies) from John F. Kennedy University. Ideas for the book came from her “long-standing interest in history”. She has researched medieval English history. Her love of the Middle Ages lead to Catherine Called Birdy (1995) and The Midwife’s Apprentice. Her other books include The Ballad of Lucy Whipple (1998) and Matilda Bone (2002). She currently lives in San Francisco with her husband, daughter, two cats, dog and rabbit. She is the assistant director of the Museum Studies Department at John F. Kennedy University. The Midwife’s Apprentice’s Setting The story takes place in a village somewhere in present day England. The specific year is not discussed, but by reading clues one is able to figure a time frame. Jane sings "Summer Is A-coming In," (p.26), this song was first written sometime between 1240 to 1310. However it was most likely a much older song. From reading we know that Jane is illiterate (“…since the midwife could not write to make labels….” (p.15)), so she must have been taught the song orally. The second clue is on page 65. Alyce finds out that the name of the king – which is to be a little boy’s new name - is Edward. Edward Longshanks was also known as Edward I (I means first in Roman numerals). His reigned was from 1272 to 1307. This time frame matches up to the Yuan Dynasty ( 元 朝 ) (1271-1367) in China. The exact time is not that important, since all one needs to know is that the story occurs in medieval England. Festivals discussed in The Midwife’s Apprentice Festivals were very important to ancient people. It was usually the only time that they had rest from work. Most of the feasts and holidays were for Catholic saints showing the importance of religion in the people’s lives. The festivals and dates in the story are: Lady Day (p.10) [Feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary] – March 25 St. John’s Eve (p.19) – June 23 Saint Swithin’s Day (p.25) – July 15 Walpurgis Night (p.41) – May 1 A note about drinking Students may find it strange that Beetle (Alyce) and other children drink ale (a type of alcohol) “…and Midwife, 2

half a mug of sour ale….” (p.4). Beer was the first drink that ancient people discovered. Some of the stored grain would get wet. The people found that the wet grain tasted different then the dry grain. They also found that when added to boiled water it produced a drink that was pleasing. The ale that Beetle (Alyce) drank had much lower alcohol than the beer that one buys at 7-11 today. Besides being lower in alcohol it was higher in protein. Along with ale there is much tea drinking. Like the beer/wine made in the story, the water for tea needs to be boiled. The people in the time of the book had no knowledge of germs or bacteria, but they would have seen how drinking tea and ale was healthier than river water. The reason is that boiling water kills much of the bad stuff in the water. One can see in the book just how bad the river water would have been. Starting on page 101, one reads about Alyce’s first bath. Shortly before she had taken her bath she helped the men fleece the sheep using heavy soap. In these few pages one finds out that the river was used for cleaning animals and humans. Along with this the people would have used the river as a toilet and a place to clean out the chamber pots. In addition the dung heaps when it rained would wash into the rivers, making them very dirty.

Medicine Pictures of some herbs can be found at http://www.mrcoward.com/slcusd/mwherb.html (as of June 10, 2008) Make sure that you refer to this when it comes-up during your reading of the book to help you understand what is going on. The use of medicine shows the amount of research that the author did in the writing of the book. Every ancient society learned about the plants that grew around them. They learned how different parts of the plants would help with certain type of diseases or problems. This is the basis of Chinese Medicine. This knowledge is quickly being lost. Below is to help you with the herbs discussed in the book. Some of

these are deadly and should not be tried without a doctor. Anise– Antispasmodic, carminative, diuretic, relieve gas pain. Birthwort – Used to aid in childbirth. Black alder bark – Used with smut rye to stop bleeding. Bryony – Used with Woolly nightshade to clean and comfort the mother. Columbine – Used to speed birth. (also made into a juice or covering as a cure for swelling). Comfrey – Used with Ragwort to speed birth (also used as a cure for arthritis, sprains and other sores on the body. “…one of a few herbs grown in gardens for its medicinal properties.” (Vickery, 1995, p.77)) Cowslip – Made into a wine, good for treating jaundice. Midwife, 3

Currant syrup – Used to treat fevers. Dill – Stimulant, carminative, used for infant colic. Feverfew – Used to treat pain. (Drank with Nutmeg in a tea) Milkwort – Used to prevent paralysis and strokes and diarrhea. Mouse ear [chickweed] – Used to stop bleeding. Mugwort – Drank in ale. Nettle – Diuretic. Nutmeg – Helps with cramps however it was probably added to Feverfew tea to make it drinkable. Ragwort – Used with Columbine to speed birth (also relieves pain in an ointment). Sage tea – Used to decrease milk production. Willow – Similar properties to aspirin. Used to treat pain and stop bleeding. Woolly nightshade – Used with Bryony to clean and comfort the mother. Wormwood (syrup). Reading Questions Chapter 1 “The Dung Heap” (pp.1-5) 1.Explain the first line: “When animal droppings and garbage and spoiled straw are piled up in a great heap, the rotting and moiling gave forth heat.” (p.1) 2.What is the season? 3.Explain this line:“...her own unwashed, unnourished, unloved, and unlovely body.” (p.1) 4.How old is the girl? How do you know? 5.How long has Brat been on the streets? 6.Why was Beetle picked on by the "scrawniest, ugliest, dirtiest, stupidest" boys in the village? 7.What type of shoes does the woman have? What does this tell us about her? 8. Describe the woman. (Make sure that you add it to the character biography) 9. What is a bailiff? 10.Explain this line: “Those who don't work don't eat.”(p.4) 11.How does the girl get the name Beetle? 12.Why does the midwife decide to take Beetle home? 13.What does Beetle get to eat and drink? Midwife, 4

14.How does Beetle get more work? 15.What does the woman do for a job? 16.What does the title of the chapter mean? Chapter 2 “The Cat” (pp.6-10) 1.What does Beetle like to watch? 2.Describe the cat. 3.What does she give the cat? 4.What does this mean: “…for the midwife was generous with the work she gave Beetle and stingy with rewards” ? (p.6) 5.Why does she not allow the cat to eat the mice? 6.Why is she still picked on by the boys? 7.What happens one day to the cat? 8.Why is beetle more afraid of the boys than losing the cat? 9.Why does Beetle save the cat? 10.What is the only way she knew to "comfort" the cat? 11.What is the date when the cat and Beetle becomes friends? 12. What does the title of the chapter mean? Chapter 3 “The Midwife” (pp.11-16) 1.What does Beetle call Jane the Midwife? 2.Why did Jane become a midwife? 3.How does Jane do her job? 4.What does Beetle eat? 5.Write at least five jobs that Beetle does for Jane the Midwife. 6.How does Beetle help Jane with the deliveries? 7.Why does Jane not let Beetle watch her deliver babies? 8.Why do the villagers dislike Jane the Midwife? 9.Why do the villagers take out their anger on Beetle? 10.Around when does Kate the weaver's daughter have her baby? Midwife, 5

11.Who is her husband? 12.How do Jane and Beetle know the right herbs? What does this tell us about Jane? 13.What does Jane say to the women in labor? 14.What does Beetle learn by watching Kate's baby's birth? 15.What does Beetle start to do after the birth of Kate's baby? 16.What does the title of the chapter mean? Chapter 4 “The Miller’s Wife” (pp.17-24) 1.What is the season? 2.Why do Jane and Beetle suddenly have so much bread? ---A Single Shard Discussion: Both Beetle and the two characters from A Single Shard do not know where their next meal is coming from. There whole live is a constant struggle for the next meal. As such it is difficult to think about anything else. In A Single Shard (p.6) we see that Crane-man asks Tree-ear questions to keep his mind off food. Later when Tree-ear has food his mind is freed and he is able to start to learn all about pottery. In The Midwife Apprentice we see that once Beetle has enough food he mind is freed to figure out why the food has come.--3.How does Beetle figure out that Jane is up to something? 4.Who (What) follows her? ---After this point I will use Who when asking about the cat instead of the more proper What, since the cat is more than just a pet.--5.What is the date when Beetle comes up with her plan to follow Jane? 6.What does Meg (from the manor dairy) pay for the goose ointment? 7.What does Beetle see from the tree? 8.What does Beetle say to the cat? 9.Who comes to find Jane? 10.What is a miller? 11.What does Beetle say? 12.How does the miller's wife react? 13.Who comes to see what is going on? Midwife, 6

14.How does Jane react when she arrives? 15. What does the title of the chapter mean? ---Discuss how how the character’s names are in this format: _________ the Job.--Chapter 5 “The Merchant” (pp.25-32) 1.What is the season? 2.Where is Jane going? 3.How does she get ready? 4.What is a wimple? 5.What happens when she is walking to the cottage? 6.What does Beetle think this means? 7.What does it actually mean? 8.Describe how Beetle walks to the market? ---p. 28 (top) she gave her bread and onion to a hungry goat that (your book doesn't have the t)--9.What does she see at the market? 10.What is forenoon? 11.Describe the purchases that she makes? 12.What does the merchant say? 13.Why does the merchant give Beetle the comb? 14.Who does the old man think that Beetle is? 15.Why does Alyce want to read? --- Beetle will no longer be used as the name for the main character.--16. What does the title of the chapter mean? ---Turn to p.31 for a discussion of the last paragraph--Chapter 6 “The Naming” (pp.33-39) 1.What does Alyce mean? 2.What is harder than it seems to Alyce? 3.How does the cat get its new name?

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4.What can no one do? Why? 5.What is the water for? 6.Where does Alyce hide? 7.Why does Alyce save Will? 8.What does the title of the chapter mean? Chapter 7 “The Devil” (pp.40-47) 1.What is the season? 2. How do the people in the village pick on her? 3.What starts the talk of an evil spirit? 4.Why does Alyce not fear the night? 5.Who does Alice watch and talk to? 6.What does Robert Weaver find? 7.What do the people think is going on? 8.What is the miller caught doing? 9.What is Grommet caught doing? 10.What is Wat caught doing? 11.What are Jack and his friends caught doing? 12.What is the baker caught doing? 13.Why was Jane not caught? 14.Why are the people caught not punished as severely as they normally would be? 15.What happens to the footprints? 16.How does Alyce know about all the bad things people do in the village? 17. What does the title of the chapter mean? Chapter 8 “The Twins ” (pp.48-53) 1.What is the season? 2.Why are there few babies born in September? 3.What do Jane and Alyce make?

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4.Which one was nicer to make? 5.Where does Alyce need to go? 6.Who does she meet? 7.What is he doing? 8.Why does he need Alyce's help? 9.Why does Alyce sing? 10.Why are twin cows good luck? 11.What happens to Alyce after the cows are born? 12.Explain the song. 13.What does the title of the chapter mean? Chapter 9 “The Bailiff’s Wife’s Baby” (pp.54-60) 1.What is the season? 2.What does a good nut year mean? 3.What threat does Alyce make to save the cat from the boys’ torture? 4.Why is the threat not possible? 5.Who comes to get Jane? 6.Who else is having a baby? 7.Why does Jane leave the house? 8.What does Jane say will happen to Joan's baby? 9.How has Alyce's ability to talk to people changed? 10.What is Alyce's first real midwife job? How does it go? What is Jane's reaction? 11.What dream does Alyce have at the night? 12. What does the title of the chapter mean? Chapter 10 “The Boy” (pp.61-66) 1.What does Alyce start to do? 2.What is she learning? 3.What are the names of the twin cows? 4.Who does Alyce see? Midwife, 9

5.What does she tell the boy? 6.What does Alyce give the boy? 7.What does she go back to get? 8.When she returns what is happening to the little boy? 9.What is the boy's name? 10.What does Alyce think of the name? 11.How does Runt get his new name, "Edward"? ---How does Edward's name help us to determine when and where Alyce lived?--12.Where does Alyce send the boy? Why? 13.What does the title of the chapter mean? Chapter 11 “The Leaving” (pp.67-71) 1.What is the season? 2.Who comes to call for Alyce? 3.Why does Mrs. Blunt ask for Alyce, instead of Jane? 4.How does Jane take the news? What does she say? 5.What happens? 6.Why does Alyce have Matthew go back for Jane? 7.What can Jane do? 8.What is the date? 9.Why does Alyce believe that she has failed? 10.Why does the cat follow Alyce? 11.What does the title of the chapter mean? Chapter 12 “The Inn” (pp.72-81) 1.How has Alyce changed since the last time she slept outside? 2.How does Alyce think of herself? 3.Where does Alyce go? 4.What does she have that she can use to get a place to sleep? 5.How does Purr help the inn? Midwife, 10

6.What is the name of the innkeeper? 7.What is wrong with him? 8.Who runs the inn? 9.What does the innkeeper's wife think of Alyce? ---Between p.75-76 describe the changing of the months, why does Cushman do this?--10.What is special about Magister Reese? 11.Why does he teach Purr to “read”? 12.What does Alyce pick-up one day? 13.What does Magister Reese ask Alyce? 14.What is her response? Why? 15.How does Magister Reese react? 16. What does the title of the chapter mean? Chapter 13 “Visitors” (pp.82-88) 1.Why is Jannet happy with Alyce? 2.What does Jannet tell Alyce to do? 3.How long has Alyce been at the inn? 4.What does Alyce ask about Edward? 5.Who does Alyce see one day? 6.What does Will tell Alyce about Jane? 7.Who comes to the inn? 8.Why does she come? 9.What does the midwife tell Magister Reese about Alyce? 10.Why is "giving up" different than "failing"? Which is worse? 11.What does Jane say about babies? 12.What does the title of the chapter mean? Chapter 14 “The Manor” (pp.89-94) 1.When does Alyce travel to the manor? 2.What does she do with the cat? Why? Midwife, 11

3.Why does Alyce travel to the manor? 4.What is her mission? 5.Where does she go first? 6.What do all the men do when Alyce asks about Edward? 7.Why does the cook help Alyce? 8.Who does the cook think Alyce is? 9.Why are twins (humans) considered bad luck? 10.What does the cook tell Alyce to do later? 11.What does the title of the chapter mean? Chapter 15 “Edward” (pp.95-103) 1.What is Edward doing when Alyce arrives? 2.How does Alyce react? Why? 3.What is Alyce's response to Edward's question as to why she is at the Manor house? 4.What does Edward say to Alyce? How does this change Alyce's plan? 5.Why does Alyce spend the night at the house? 6.What does Edward tell Alyce? 7.What does Alyce tell Edward about the best thing to eat? 8.What is something that Edward remembers eating? 9.What does Alyce help the men do? 10.Describe Alyce’s first bath. 11.Was Alyce's trip to the manor a success? 12.Did she accomplish what she wanted to? 13.What does the title of the chapter mean? Chapter 16 “The Baby” (pp.104-111) 1.Who arrives at the inn? 2.What does the man say is happening to his wife? 3.What does Jannet say about his wife? 4.What does the man say? Midwife, 12

5.Who does the man send for? 6.Was Jane at home? 7.Who does Jannet send outside? 8.What does the man ask Alyce? 9.Who is the month of June named after? 10.Why is that important to this story? 11.What does the title of the chapter mean? Chapter 17 “The Midwife’s Apprentice” (pp.112-117) 1.What is the month? 2.What are Alyce’s three options? 3.What does she dream about? 4.How does Alyce say goodbye? 5.What does she bring back to the village? 6.What is the name of the inn now? 7.Initially, Jane would not allow Alyce to be her apprentice again. Why? 8.What makes Alice return? 9.What does Alyce bring to the house? 10.What does she say? 11.What does Alyce learn about the importance of perseverance? 12.What does the title of the chapter mean? Author’s Note (pp.118-122) 1.What does the word "midwife" literally mean in Middle English? 2.What three types of women used to be midwives? 3.How did a women become a midwife? 4.What were the "only medicines available to the medieval midwife"? 5.What contributed to the decline in the use and status of midwives? 6.What does Sage femme mean in French? Comparison to Alice's Adventures in Wonderland? Midwife, 13

There seems to be some connection to Alice's Adventures in Wonderland in this story. First Alyce is another spelling for Alice. In addition the cat not only follows her, but is also her guide, similar to the Cheshire Cat. On page 78, Magister Reese is working for the Bishop of Chester. Cheshire is the name for the County of Chester. Questions for the end 1. Give examples of how the lives and treatment of children in in the book are different than Taiwanese kids today? 2. Would you want to trade places with the main character? (Why? /Why not?) 3.Are there any advantages to the character's life, compared to yours? Deeper & Possible Test Essay Questions Chapter 1 – What happened to Beetle's mother and father? (There is no right or wrong answer, but you must support your answer with some reasons.) Chapter 2 – Can you judge people by the way they treat animals? Is it possible to treat animals badly and still treat people well? How do people in Taiwan treat stray cats and dogs? Chapter 3a – Did Jane the Midwife have any duty to help the mothers who cannot pay her? How does her attitude compare to doctors and nurses working in Taiwan today? Do you believe that it is the duty of the society at large to help poor people? Chapter 3b – [Take the story to the Yuan Dynasty] When was the best time to have a baby? Why would this be true? Would the time be different in different parts of China? Chapter 4 – How did Beetle help Jane and the Baker? (go deep) Chapter 5 – In this chapter we begin to see how Beetle is starting to find her place in the world. Discuss how the name Alyce is much better than Beetle. Chapter 6 – Explain the dream that Alyce has the night after saving Will. What does it mean? Chapter 7 – Does Alyce have a right to take revenge on those who have humiliated her? Is what she did ok in the modern world? Have you ever wanted to get back at someone? Chapter 8 – Why does Jane the Midwife not notice that Alyce is gaining skills and respect in the village? Chapter 9 – Does Jane have any choice in leaving Joan to go take care of Lady Agnes? Remember that the lady's husband the Lord was the ruler of the town that Jane lived inside. Make sure that you explain in your answer what you would have done if you were Jane. Chapter 10 – Why does Alyce save the little boy? Explain why she runs to give the boy a proper name before sending him to the manor house. Explain in your answer how her saving by Jane was not the same. Chapter 11 – Why does Alyce choose to leave the village, after Mrs. Blunt's baby is born? Chapter 12 – Explain the last statement from Magister Reese “You can read as well as the cat.” (p.81). Why Midwife, 14

does Alyce believe that this is a complement? In your answer make sure that you discuss how Alyce believed that the cat was learning how to read. Chapter 13a – What would you do if your boss told you to cheat customers like Jennet the innkeeper's wife? Was Jennet's justification for cheating customers – “I am but a poor women with this wretched inn and a blind man to care for.”(p.83) – a good one? Do you think that sellers in Taiwan do this today? Chapter 13b – Describe something that you have eaten in the past that you still remember. Make sure you discuss why it is in your mind. You can also discuss a restaurant that you once visited and have always remembered. Chapter 14 – Discuss how Alyce is seeking someone to love. Go back to her comment to Magister Reese on page 81 and discuss if her mission fits into the saying. Chapter 15 – How has sanitation changed since the time of the book in both Taiwan and England? Were people cleaner in the Yuan Dynasty or in the book? (give examples) Can a society become too clean or too dirty? Why are poor places dirtier than rich ones? Chapter 16a – Why was Alyce able to succeed in delivering the baby? (What did she do differently?) Chapter 16b – Talk about how Alyce has found a place at the Inn that she was important. Chapter 17a – Discuss how Alyce for the first time in her life has a place in the world. Why does she choose to give it up to go back to Jane? Chapter 17b – If you were Alyce's would you have gone back to the midwife? Why/Why Not? End – How do Jane, the Cat, Edward, Will, Jennet, and Magister Reese help Alyce find her place in the world? End – Why did Jane save this girl and not another? There must have been other girls who were homeless and could be used for her “greedy purpose”. End – Do you think that Alyce will succeed in becoming a midwife? Use examples form the book to support your answer.

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Character Map Write the names of the different characters in the book and write on the line how they are related to the character. Don’t forget to add arrows. Not all the boxes will be used.

Bibliography Bookrags (2006) BookRags Literature Short Guide The Midwife's Apprentice by Karen Cushman. Downloaded June 10, 2008, from: http://www.bookrags.com/shortguide-midwifes-apprentice Casanova, G. (1912). St. Walburga. In The Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. Retrieved June 10, 2008 from New Advent: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15526b.htm Coward, (date unknown) “The Midwife Apprentice Reading Checks”. Mr. Coward's Seventh Grade English. Retrieved: June 10, 2008 from: http://www.mrcoward.com/slcusd/mwachecks.html Coward, (date unknown) “The Midwife Apprentice Author’s Note Questions”. Mr. Coward's Seventh Grade English. Retrieved: June 10, 2008 from:http://www.mrcoward.com/slcusd/mwanote.html Coward, (date unknown) “The Midwife Apprentice Study Questions”. Mr. Coward's Seventh Grade English. Retrieved: June 10, 2008 from: http://mrcoward.com/slcusd/midwifesq.html Cushman, K (1995) The midwife’s apprentice New York: Harper Trophy. Holweck, F. (1907). The Feast of the Annunciation. In The Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. Retrieved June 10, 2008 from New Advent: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01542a.htm Holweck, F. (1907). The Feast of the Assumption. In The Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. Retrieved June 10, 2008 from New Advent: Midwife, 16

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02006b.htm Li, T.S.C. (2002) Chinese and related north American herbs: Phytopharmacology and therapeutic values. New York: CRC Press. Royal Household (Date Unkown) “Edward I” History of the Monarchy. Retrieved: June 10, 2008 from: http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/Page61.asp Standage, T. (2005) A history of the world in 6 glasses. New York: Walker & Company. Souvay, C. (1910). St. John the Baptist. In The Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. Retrieved June 10, 2008 from New Advent: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08486b.htm Travels China Guide (2008) Yuan Dynasty Retrieved: June 10, 2008 from: http://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/history/yuan/index.htm Vickery, R (Ed.) (1995) A dictionary of plant-lore. New York: Oxford University Press Woolf, H.B. (Ed.) (1974) Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary (7th Edition) Taiwan: G. & C. Merriam Co.

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Character Biography (Adapted from: Lucke, M (1998) Schaum’s quick guide to writing great short stories (p. 41)) The Midwife’s Apprentice Character’s Name: Brat, Beetle, Alyce Physical Description (What does he/she/it look like? (weight, age, height))

Profession (What is his/her/its job?)

Home (Where does he/she/it live? – Make sure you describe it well)

Personality (What are his/her/its attitudes, opinions, emotions, feelings?)

Hobbies (What does he/she/it like to do?)

Family/Relationship (Who are his/her/its family, pet(s), boy/girlfriend(s)?)

Other important information (Write anything that you think is important.)

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Character Biography (Adapted from: Lucke, M (1998) Schaum’s quick guide to writing great short stories (p. 41)) The Midwife’s Apprentice Character’s Name: Jane the Midwife Physical Description (What does he/she/it look like? (weight, age, height))

Profession (What is his/her/its job?)

Home (Where does he/she/it live? – Make sure you describe it well)

Personality (What are his/her/its attitudes, opinions, emotions, feelings?)

Hobbies (What does he/she/it like to do?)

Family/Relationship (Who are his/her/its family, pet(s), boy/girlfriend(s)?)

Other important information (Write anything that you think is important.)

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