1. Blood on Snow Instructions

2. I remember the night she arrived, frightened and alone. We couldn’t turn her away, but who was going to give up their bed? It was me of course! I had a dreadful night, one hour in each of the other’s beds – and they hadn’t washed their feet!

3. The next morning, it was a smell that woke me. Not feet, but coffee and toast. She had got up and got our breakfast. The table was laid, the house was warm and tidy and our packed lunches were waiting. What a smile, and such beautiful black hair, curling in tendrils round her white neck. I quite forgot my resentment about having to give up my bed.

4. Every day she cooked and cleaned for us. She was gentle and dainty as a dove. She told us her story about an evil stepmother’s jealousy and want of revenge and all because of her beauty.

5. Then, we were worried for her. How could we protect here when we had to go out working every day? We begged her to stay inside, away from the door, to keep out of sight. But there was something elusive about her. She was happy but there was something missing.

6. On that dreadful day, we arrived home after dark. We sensed that something was wrong. The house was in darkness. My heart was racing with fear. There she was, lying on the floor, white and cold as a corpse. We clustered close around her still body. I saw her breast rise and fall slowly – she was still alive! We waited but she did not awake.

7. So we built her a bed, encased in glass to protect her beauty. We kept constant vigil, each one taking his turn. As I gazed at her peaceful face, I couldn’t help feeling that she was still waiting for something and when that thing happened, she would reawaken and we would all be happy again.

8. He came – the one she awaited. He gently kissed her soft, red lips and gently moved a tendril of that raven black hair from her pale, slender neck. Her eyes opened hesitantly and she smiled at us all. My heart was filled with joy and love. All was well and we would all live happily ever after.

9. This is what you need to do. 1.Read the different parts of the story. (Brown question marks). Can you put the different parts of the story in order? 2.What traditional tale do you think this is? 3.Which character is telling this story?

10. How do you think that the character telling the story feels about the girl? Have his feelings changed over the course of the story? What do you think the character is like? Discuss with a partner.

11. Can you write this story from another character’s point of view? Choose your character and create an interactive text like this one.