“The Stranger and the Soup” Study Guide
1. wilted (verb) became limp; drooped
2. well (noun) a deep hole for getting water from the ground
3. plaza (noun) the center of town, where people gather
4. seasoning (noun) something that is used to bring out the flavor of food
Story Skills:
5. What is the Genre? Folktale
6. Who are the 3 main characters in the story? Isabel, Senhor Vargas, and the stranger.
7. Why are Isabel and her mother surprised they have a visitor? Pg. 394-395 Isabel and her mother were surprised they had a visitor because it was a dark time in the village during winter.
8. Why aren’t the people in the village able to give the stranger food? Pg. 395-397 They aren’t able to give the stranger food because there is a drought and little food to grow.
9. What does the stranger tell Isabel he is making? Pg. 398 The stranger tells her he is making stone soup.
10. Why is Isabel surprised about what the stranger is making? Pg. 399 Isabel is surprised about what the stranger is making because he didn’t have any food to make soup with.
11. What 2 items did Isabel give the stranger? Pg. 399 A big pot and a spoon.
12. Why did all the villagers start to give the stranger? Pg.402-404 The villagers gave the stranger a cabbage, an onion, a carrot, some garlic, salt and pepper.
13. How did the stranger help the village during their dark winter time? Pg. 406-407 He helped bring the village together and talk to each other.
14. What tradition did the stranger begin? Pg. 407 He started the tradition of the village making stone soup.