100 Cupboards

In 100 Cupboards, the main character thinks he is just an ordinary person but discovers that he is secretly an adopted child from a magical realm. What makes Henry seem like any other ordinary boy in the beginning of the story? How does this make it easier for the reader to relate to him? How does the author foreshadow the revelation of Henry’s real identity? How does Henry grow and change throughout the story as the secret of his real identity begins to unravel?

We often compare stories based on similarities in plot. 100 Cupboards might be called a “lost prince” story because Henry comes to discover that he has a special background he never suspected. What other stories do you know where the protagonist makes a similar discovery? Why do you think this kind of story is so popular? What can we learn from the adventures of a character like Henry?

Teaching Suggestion: Students are likely to know several stories based on this archetype. If they raise concerns about originality, you might introduce the idea that many stories have elements that repeat plot devices and patterns. In comparing two or more “lost prince” stories, students might consider, “What do the different ways these authors have used the same pattern tell us about their ideas about the world?” These patterns in literature are also instructive; what do they tell us about biases and assumptions hidden in our minds and cultures? You can use these ideas to guide a discussion comparing students’ other examples of the “lost prince” story to 100 Cupboards; what might the differences reveal about the authors’ beliefs and values?

Differentiation Suggestion: Students with executive function issues or who are English language learners will benefit from having the prompt separated into a list of numbered questions rather than a single block of text. If you choose to have students respond to this prompt in writing, students who struggle with written expression might work with a partner or respond in the form of a bulleted list, with one or two sentences per question. For gifted or advanced learners, an alternative discussion topic might include what the prevalence of this archetype reveals about our psychology and culture.