The Twelve Dancing Princesses Summary

10 questions on the plot and the characters. Each answer comes with a short explanation.

Take it one question at a time

1. Question 1

   What is the main problem that the king faces at the beginning of the story?

   1. His daughters are being kidnapped every night
   2. His daughters' shoes are worn out every morning from dancing
   3. His daughters refuse to eat their meals
   4. His daughters are arguing constantly with each other
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   B. His daughters' shoes are worn out every morning from dancing In Ruth Sanderson's retelling, the king discovers that his twelve daughters' shoes are mysteriously worn to pieces each morning, despite them being locked in their room at night, which sets the central mystery of the story.

2. Question 2

   What does the king offer as a reward to anyone who can solve the mystery of the worn-out shoes?

   1. A bag of gold coins
   2. Marriage to one of the princesses and the kingdom
   3. A magical cloak of invisibility
   4. A position as the royal advisor
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   B. Marriage to one of the princesses and the kingdom The king promises that whoever discovers where the princesses go at night will be allowed to marry one of them and eventually inherit the kingdom, motivating many suitors to attempt the challenge.

3. Question 3

   How does the soldier, Michael, avoid falling asleep like the previous suitors?

   1. He drinks a special potion given by a witch
   2. He pretends to sleep but stays awake secretly
   3. He follows advice from an old woman to not drink the wine offered by the princesses
   4. He ties a string to his finger to keep himself alert
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   C. He follows advice from an old woman to not drink the wine offered by the princesses An old woman advises Michael to refuse the wine that the princesses offer him, as it is enchanted to make him fall asleep, allowing him to stay awake and follow them.

4. Question 4

   What magical object does Michael use to become invisible and follow the princesses?

   1. A magic ring from the old woman
   2. A cloak of invisibility given by the king
   3. A cap of invisibility from the old woman
   4. A pair of enchanted boots that hide his footsteps
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   C. A cap of invisibility from the old woman The old woman gives Michael a cap of invisibility, which he uses to follow the princesses unseen as they travel through the secret passage to the underground kingdom.

5. Question 5

   Where do the princesses go each night to dance?

   1. A hidden ballroom in the castle attic
   2. A magical forest outside the castle
   3. An underground kingdom with silver, gold, and diamond trees
   4. A neighboring kingdom's royal ball
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   C. An underground kingdom with silver, gold, and diamond trees The princesses descend through a secret passage to an enchanted underground kingdom, where they dance with princes under trees made of silver, gold, and diamonds, as described in Sanderson's illustrations and text.

6. Question 6

   What evidence does Michael collect to prove he has discovered the princesses' secret?

   1. A lock of hair from each princess
   2. Branches from the silver, gold, and diamond trees
   3. A map of the underground kingdom
   4. A signed confession from the eldest princess
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   B. Branches from the silver, gold, and diamond trees Michael breaks off branches from the silver, gold, and diamond trees in the underground kingdom as tangible proof to show the king, which convinces him of the truth.

7. Question 7

   In Ruth Sanderson's retelling, what is a key theme emphasized through the story?

   1. The importance of honesty and keeping promises
   2. The value of cleverness and resourcefulness over brute strength
   3. The dangers of greed and materialism
   4. The power of love at first sight
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   B. The value of cleverness and resourcefulness over brute strength Michael's success comes from his cleverness in following the old woman's advice and using the invisibility cap, rather than force, highlighting resourcefulness as a central theme in this version.

8. Question 8

   How do the princesses react when Michael reveals his discovery to the king?

   1. They deny everything and accuse Michael of lying
   2. They are relieved and confess willingly
   3. They are initially angry but eventually accept the truth
   4. They try to escape the castle immediately
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   C. They are initially angry but eventually accept the truth The princesses are upset and angry when Michael presents the branches as evidence, but they cannot deny the proof, and they ultimately accept the outcome, leading to Michael's marriage to the eldest princess.

9. Question 9

   What role does the old woman play in the story?

   1. She is a disguised fairy testing the princesses' kindness
   2. She is a wise helper who provides crucial advice and magical aid to Michael
   3. She is the mother of the underground princes
   4. She is a servant in the castle who spies on the princesses
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   B. She is a wise helper who provides crucial advice and magical aid to Michael The old woman acts as a mentor figure, giving Michael the key advice to avoid the enchanted wine and the cap of invisibility, which are essential for his success in solving the mystery.

10. Question 10

    In the context of Ruth Sanderson's illustrations, what enhances the magical atmosphere of the underground kingdom?

    1. Detailed maps showing the layout of the kingdom
    2. Lavish oil paintings with rich colors and shimmering effects on the trees
    3. Black-and-white sketches to emphasize mystery
    4. Photographic images of real forests
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    B. Lavish oil paintings with rich colors and shimmering effects on the trees Sanderson's full-color oil paintings use vibrant hues and glittering details to depict the silver, gold, and diamond trees, creating a visually enchanting setting that complements the fantastical elements of the story.