The Midwife's Apprentice  By Karen Cushman
Study Questions
Chapters 1- 9
  1. Why would Beetle be a target for the "scrawniest, ugliest, dirtiest, stupidest" boys in the village?
  2. What made the midwife decide to take Beetle home? (Quote a line from the book.)
  3. Why do you think Beetle saved the cat? (Don't say she felt sorry for it.)
  4. What was the only way she knew to "comfort" the cat?
  5. (4) Give examples of some of the herbs and potions the midwife uses, and their purposes.
  6. Why did the midwife not let Beetle watch when she delivered babies?
  7. Beetle, though, learned that midwifery was more about_______________, than about ________________.
  8. (2) Why did Jane and Beetle suddenly have so much bread? How did Beetle figure it out?
  9. (4) Compare the two things Beetle did for the miller's wife to the two things Jane did.
  10. Why does the merchant give her the comb?
  11. How does Alyce get her new name?
  12. How does the cat get his new name?
  13. Why does Alyce save Will? (Use a quote.)
  14. How does Alyce get revenge on those who tormented her? (Explain the scheme.)
  15. What was Alyce's first "midwife" job? How did it go?
  16. What threat does Alyce make to the boys to save the cat from torment?
  17. What was Alyce's first real midwife job? How did it go? What is Jane's reaction?
Chapters 10 - end
  1. (2) Who is Runt?  How does he get his new name, "Edward"?
  2. (2) How does Edward's name help us to determine when and where Alyce lived?

    3.      -Which tools could we use to find this information?
  3. Why does Mrs. Blunt ask for Alyce, instead of the midwife?
  4. Why does Alyce choose to leave the village, after Mrs. Blunt's baby is born?
  5. (2) Where does Alyce go? How does she survive after leaving the village?
  6. What is special about Magister Reese?
  7. Why does he teach Purr to read, instead of teaching Alyce?
  8. What does the midwife tell Magister Reese about Alyce?
  9. (2) Why is "giving up" different than "failing"?  Which is worse?
  10. (2) Why does Alyce travel to the manor?  What is her mission?
  11. (3) Who is the only person who helps Alyce when she arrives at the manor?

    12.      -Why does this person help Alyce?  Who does she think Alyce is?
  12. (3) How does Alyce get her hands clean?  Why is this unusual?  Describe her first bath.
  13. (2) Was Alyce's trip to the manor a success?  Does she accomplish what she wanted to?
  14. (2) Back at the inn, Alyce is tested.  Does she succeed?  What does she do differently?
  15. (2) Is Alyce an "Angel" or "Saint"?  What does she say when people ask her that question?
  16. (2) Who is the month of June named after?  Why is that important to this story?
  17. (4) Alyce has three good options in Chapter 17; but instead of choosing one of these,

    18.      she decides to return to the village.
         -What are her three options?
         -Why does she decide to return to the village instead?
  18. Initially, Jane Sharp would not allow Alyce to be her apprentice again. Why?
  19. What does Alyce learn about the importance of perseverance?

    20. Why will perseverance help Alyce when she becomes a midwife? (hint: see page 88).

    Bonus Questions:
     

  20. (7) Give at least three examples of the ways that the lives and treatment of children

    21.      in this novel are different than those of kids, like you, who live in America today.
         -Would you want to trade places with Alyce? (why? or why not?)
         -Are there any advantages to her situation, compared to yours? (besides homework).
         -What might Alyce think about going to 7th Grade classes at Laguna Middle School?