What a reader is asked to KNOW:
About Life
- Blue is not a natural/normal color for human hair.
- There was once a time when men were perceived as “dominant”, and wives had to listen to the rules of their husbands.
- Swords are weapons used to kill.
About Language
- Basic comprehension of English, i.e., reading from left to right, how sentences and paragraphs are formed to create thoughts.
- Quotations and how they are used to separate dialogue from narration.
- Language as it is used to express emotion.
- Why “Blue Beard” goes from an identifying characteristic to a proper noun.
About Literature
- How to differentiate “bad” characters from “good” characters, and how their actions differentiate them.
- That identifiers can be used as nicknames.
- How to spot elements of foreshadowing in the main character’s journey.
What a reader is asked to DO:
- Put letters and words together into conscious streams of thought that relate to one another.
- Comprehend the beginning, climax, and resolution of the given story.
- Feel surprise at sudden character shifts and deception.
Who is the implied reader?
The implied reader of “Bluebeard” is a child. This assumption is owing to the fact that the writing is simple and straightforward, with limited (if any) use of simile, metaphor, or other literary devices. It is written in simple prose with very few characters having actual names. However, the child would need to read in the presence of an adult to better comprehend the darker themes of death and deception. A couple of potentially harmful results would be the child assuming that ALL wives had to listen to their husbands, and that people with blue hair/beards are untrustworthy.