1. A Story for Children
Svava Jakobsdottir

2. Childhood and Education
Born in Iceland
Spent her childhood
Adult life in Canada, The United States, Sweden, and England. She attended Smith College in Massachusetts, Oxford, and Uppsala University in Sweden.

3. Adult Life
Jakobsdottir has served in numerous positions in political and diplomatic professions.
Iceland’s Foreign Ministry
Icelandic Parliament
Delegate to the United Nations

4. Adult Life
Member of the Nordic Committee, whose goal was to promote gender equality.

5. Think about…
How Jakobsdottir’s work with gender equality has impacted her writing?
Jakobsdottir’s work as a diplomat and politician have influenced her opinions of the roles of a mother/father?

6. Pre-Reading Discussion and Activity
What are the characteristics of your ideal mother?

7. 1. What magazine did the protagonist pick up and what did she read?
Level 1 Questions
1. What magazine did the protagonist pick up and what did she read?

8. 2. What did the kids want to do?
Level 1 Questions
2. What did the kids want to do?

9. Level 1 Questions
3. What did the father walk into and how did he react? How does the mom react?

10. 3. Where did they put the brain?
Level 1 Questions
3. Where did they put the brain?

11. 4. Why did she go to the doctor? 5. What did she tell him?
Level 1 Questions
4. Why did she go to the doctor?
5. What did she tell him?

12. Level 1 Questions
6. What does she try to do with the heart? What does she end up doing with the heart?

13. 1. What do the brain and the heart symbolize?
Level 2 Questions
1. What do the brain and the heart symbolize?

14. Level 2 Questions
2. Did the protagonist fail as a mother? How does the toe represent the protagonist’s "failure" as a mother?

15. 4. Why did the mother ask the daughter to take her heart?
Level 2 Questions
4. Why did the mother ask the daughter to take her heart?

16. 5. What are some examples of foreshadowing in the story?
Level 2 Questions
5. What are some examples of foreshadowing in the story?

17. Level 2 Questions
6. What is the author’s purpose by portraying the father in a less involved manner?

18. 1. What role should a mother have in a family and in society?
Level 3 Questions:
1. What role should a mother have in a family and in society?

19. Level 3 Questions
2. Is the "Story for Children", a story for children? What about Jakobsdottir’s background is evidence of this?

20. 3. Compared to the past, how are women viewed in current society? Why?
Level 3 Questions
3. Compared to the past, how are women viewed in current society? Why?

21. Jakobsdottir: In current society, women are seen as...
Weak and fragile
Unconfident, and need ‘external support’ to be self-confident
Example: The mother has to go look in the Danish magazine to "[seek] courage and confirmation that she was on the right track in life"
Having the responsibility to take care of the home
Example: the mother is portrayed as being "true to her nature and devote all her energies to her home and her children"
Unable to let go of the past
Example: The mother continues to force her organs on her children in an attempt to remind them of what life ‘used to be like.’ They no longer visit her because her home smells ‘sterile,’ (symbolism for the past).

22. Theme
a) The Role of a Mother
b) Mother vs. Children
c) Women in current society

23. Post-reading Activity and Discussion
What are the characteristics of your ideal mother?