The Cruel Prince

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

In fiction, what are the benefits associated with a first-person point of view? How might a first-person point of view be impacted by the protagonist’s perspective?

Teaching Suggestion: Jude, the novel’s protagonist, provides the point of view from which readers understand Faerie culture and learn about the people she encounters. Jude’s perspective often proves false as her interpretation of the world is colored by her own complex relationships in the Faerie realm as well as her own feelings of inferiority. These or similar resources may be helpful in discussing the value and drawbacks of perspective when observing a world from a limited viewpoint. It may be beneficial for students to create a response chart for reference as they read the novel. Consider using the chart as a reflection after each chapter section to analyze Jude’s viewpoint by listing the ways in which it is useful to the reader and the ways in which it may limit the reader’s understanding.

• This 6-minute video explores the three points of view, explaining how to distinguish between them.
• This article compares the point of view from third and first person, exploring the benefits of each.

Short Activity

Explore the origins of faeries, their customs, and the different types of creatures that might be found in their realm.

• How would you describe a fae or faerie?
• In what types of activities do faeries participate?
• Generally, are faeries considered dangerous or peaceful creatures?
• What kinds of creatures might you expect to find in the land of Faerie? What are their attributes?

Teaching Suggestion: Jude has a relatively normal childhood in the mortal realm until her half-sister’s father, a fae called Madoc, kills her parents and takes Jude and her siblings to Faerie. Initially, Jude has difficulty navigating the dangerous and often brutal environment with its strange customs and mix of unusual creatures. Students may find it beneficial to learn about the various creatures in Faerie to develop a better understanding of the plot and characters in the novel. Students might utilize investigation time to explore the origins of faerie tales and to discover the different types of creatures that might be found in the faerie realm.

• This 14-minute video explores the history of the concept of faeries in Ireland and England.
• This article describes the different types of faeries and their origins.
• This article explains faeries in folklore and provides links to various types of faerie creatures.

Differentiation Suggestion: Students who would benefit from an additional challenge might create an infographic describing the different types of faeries. The posted infographic could serve as a quick reference as students encounter new faerie creatures in the novel. 

Personal Connection Prompt

This prompt can be used for in-class discussion, exploratory free-writing, or reflection homework before reading the novel.

Consider a time when your judgment was clouded by misinterpretation of non-verbal communication cues like body language, complex interpersonal relationships, or other factors. How was your perspective formed, and what clues first indicated to you that your perspective was wrong? In what other ways can your own perspective limit your understanding of the world?

Teaching Suggestion: Jude’s understanding of her relationship with Cardan is based on the bullying she encounters from Cardan and his friend group. Much later, it is revealed that Cardan oftentimes worked to help Jude rather than harm her. There are many other such instances in the novel where Jude’s perception is challenged by the actions of others. In one such instance, Jude believes Locke to be less evil than Cardan’s other friends, but she later discovers Locke’s betrayal.  After composing a written response to the prompt, students might gather in small groups to discuss examples of perspective in interpersonal communication, how it is formed, and factors that may work to change it.