The Hundred Dresses II- Summary & Question Answers

The Hundred Dresses II- Summary & Question Answers

·      The part II of the story opens in Room No. 13 of the school where we find students having a look at all the magnificent drawings of Wanda Petronski.

·      However, Wanda isn’t there.

·      The teacher Miss Mason has received a note from Wanda’s father.

·      She is not only shocked but also embarrassed to read it.

·      Then, she reads it to the class and in that note Wanda’s father has written that his both children wouldn’t attend that school anymore.

·      They are moving to a big city where they are not made fun of on account of their names.

·      It intensely affects Maddie and Peggy.

·      They rush to Boggin Heights where Wanda used to live, to apologize for their  misbehavior.

·      However, they could find nothing there, as Wanda has already left the place with her family.

·      Maddie couldn’t sleep for so many days for being a mute spectator to Wanda’s humiliation.

·      She resolved that she’d never let anyone tease anyone on any basis.

·      Peggy too feels quite embarrassed for her folly and decides to write to Wanda.

·      However, Maddie and Peggy write a letter to Wanda to apologize.

·      They thought of writing it in apologetic manner, but they end up writing a friendly note asking her how did she like the new place.

·      Even after weeks, no reply came until one day near Christmas; Miss Mason announces that she heard from Wanda.

·       In that letter, Wanda wrote that she misses everyone.

·      She also expressed her willingness to gift one dress each to Maddie and Peggy as she has drawn a whole new lot of hundred dresses lined up in her new house.

·      Maddie and Peggy were happy to have received Wanda’s drawings.

·      They also found that the drawings had their faces drawn along with the dresses.

·      So, they concluded that Wanda did like them, though they were disrespectful towards her.

·      It heightened Wanda’s position in their heart.

Question Answers

Q1. Why do you think Wanda’s family moved to a different city? Do you think life there was going to be different for their family?

A. Wanda’s family faced discrimination at the town where they settled at first. Wanda and her other sibling was made fun of on account of their names and ethnicity. They moved to a different city as many Polish immigrants already live there, so, they wouldn’t be considered strange there; hence they wouldn’t be made fun of. Yes, life in the big city would be different & comfortable for the family because they will connect with their own community over there.

Q2. Maddie thought her silence was as bad as Peggy’s teasing. Was she right?

A. Yes, Maddie is quite right in feeling so; as had she intervened the situation would have been different. Peggy might have understood or Wanda may have felt that she is understood and respected, if not by all, at least by some. However, Maddie’s silence proved to a catalyst to Peggy’s misbehavior towards Wanda.

Q3. Peggy says, “I never thought she had the sense to know we were making fun of her anyway. I thought she was too dumb. And gee, look how she can draw!” What led Peggy to believe that Wanda was dumb? Did she change her opinion later?

A. Wanda was a shy and quiet girl who remained aloof from others and never reacted to Peggy’s misbehavior. It made Peggy feel that Wanda was too dumb to realize that she was being ridiculed. However, having a look at Wanda’s excellent drawings, she underwent a change in her perception about Wanda. She felt guilty for having teased Wanda specifically for her claim to have hundred dresses.

Q4. What important decision did Maddie make? Why did she have to think hard to do so?

A. Maddie could not sleep for many nights having realized that she too was as guiltier as Peggy was. As Wanda & her family already had moved to a big city, so the chances to have face to face acknowledgement of Maddie and Peggy’s apology are lost. Maddie having realized her fault resolves never to let anyone be teased on any basis. She decided that she would raise her voice for every wrong.

                                               

Q5. Why do you think Wanda gave Maddie and Peggy the drawings of the dresses? Why are they surprised?

A. Wanda offered the drawings of the dresses to Maddie and Peggy as she had drawn their faces on them. Both the girls are surprised to discover their faces on the drawings and realize that Wanda liked them, though they never left any chance to mock at her.

Q6. Do you think Wanda really thought the girls were teasing her? Why or Why not?

Ans: Yes, Wanda was clear that the girls mock at her. The note that the father of Wanda sent to Miss Mason had a clear indication of Wanda being ridiculed for her name.