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For each of the following questions, indicate whether that question is factual, interpretive, or evaluative.
1. Why does Jack show his mother every item he steals from the Ogre?
factual / interpretive / evaluative
2. Why does the Ogre become suspicious that a stranger is present?
factual / interpretive / evaluative
3. Why does stealing often make people greedy for more?
factual / interpretive / evaluative
4. Is the old man trying to help Jack or take advantage of him?
factual / interpretive / evaluative
1. This question is interpretive and capable of supporting a good Shared Inquiry Discussion.
Why does Jack show his mother every item he steals from the Ogre?
This question can be answered more than one way based on the text.
Possible answer 1: Jack wants to prove he made a good trade.
Supporting evidence: After showing his mother the bag of gold Jack says, "Well, mother, wasn't I right about the beans? They are really magical, you see."
Possible answer 2: Jack is concerned about his mother and wants to take care of her.
Supporting evidence: When his mother is distraught over the cow not giving milk, Jack says, "Cheer up, mother, I'll go and get work somewhere."
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2. This question is factual and not capable of supporting a good Shared Inquiry Discussion.
Why does the Ogre become suspicious that a stranger is present?
This question has only one valid answer based on the evidence of the text.
Answer: The Ogre smells Jack.
Evidence: "Fee-fi-fo-fum, I smell the blood of an Englishman."
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3. This question is evaluative and not capable of supporting a good Shared Inquiry Discussion.
Why does stealing often make people greedy for more?
This question can be validly answered in more than one way.
Possible answer 1: Getting things easily, without working for them, makes one feel it would be easy to have even more.
Possible answer 2: People usually steal because they want something, not because they really need it. Because you can always want something more, you're not likely to become satisfied with what you have.
Answers such as these originate more in a personal understanding of life and stealing than in "Jack and the Beanstalk." Discussing this question might help students explore values and beliefs, but it wouldn't help them explore the meaning of the story.
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4. This question is interpretive and is capable of sustaining a good Shared Inquiry Discussion.
Is the old man trying to help Jack or take advantage of him?
This question can be answered more than one way based on evidence from the text.
Possible answer 1: It's not a fair trade, so the old man is trying to take advantage of Jack.
Supporting evidence: He wants Jack's cow for five beans.
Possible answer 2: The beans are magic, so he is trying to help Jack.
Supporting evidence: When Jack he woke up he saw the beanstalk. Also, the old man knew his name.
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