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Maupassant, a prolific French writer from the late 1800s. In this story,
the main character has built a reputation as a habitual liar or exaggerator
of the truth. His fellow villagers dont trust him, so when he is accused of
a crime he didnt commit, he is unable to defend himself. His past
behavior makes him appear guilty. The moral of the story, of course, is
not to lie, that establishing a positive reputation is important, which is a
profound lesson for many young people. String shares a similar theme
to the folktale, The Boy Who Cried Wolf, which makes for an excellent
compare and contrast activity.
Bubble Test Comprehension Activity (CCSs Literature items 1, 4, 10). Have students cite evidence from the
text when completing and reviewing. Key: 1. c; 2. d; 3. c; 4. a; 5. b (while a, b, and c are all reasonable
answers, the story is about telling the truth. The lost pocketbook and going to market are merely devices used
by the author to tell the story); 6. c; 7. b; 8. b; 9. a; 10. a.
Point of View Comprehension Activity (CCSs Lit items 3, 5, 6): This activity can be managed in several ways:
1. (Easiest): Have students use the last page to summarize the play (or the original story).
2. (More difficult): Have students use Hauchecornes point of view as a model to re-imagine the story from the
perspective of other characters. Identify what each scene would look like if seen through another characters
eyes. How does Madame Swinburne react when she takes a bite of those mealy apples? What does she do
when she hears Hauchecorne has been accused of taking the money? What does she say to him after hes
been cleared? Rather than having all students map the characters shown, consider assigning each third of
the class a single character and then sharing out.
3. (Hardesthigh level): Use the mapping activity as a pre-writing activity to fully re-write the play from
another characters perspective. Students can then share or enact these new versions with the class.
Key: POV maps may vary widely, but they should generally correspond with Hauchecornes POV. All three
characters, for example, should hear that the pocketbook was returned. All three should speculate about
Hauchecornes guilt or innocence. In the epilogue, all three should either hear his voice in the wind or reject
others claims of having heard it as superstition.
2015 by Mack Lewis. All Rights Reserved ReadAloudPlays.com A Piece of String -- Page 8 of 15
A Piece of String
Name: _________________________________________________ Date: __________________________
Comparing Point of View: This story is from Hauchecornes perspective. If it were written from the viewpoint
of another character, how would it be different? Re-imagine the play from another characters perspective by
describing the main events of each scene. Hauchecornes is done for you. (CCSs Literature items 3, 5, 6)
2015 by Mack Lewis. All Rights Reserved ReadAloudPlays.com A Piece of String -- Page 11 of 15
Originally adapted for Scholastics Scope magazine by Mack Lewis
CAST of CHARACTERS
Narrators 1, 2, and 3
Hauchecornea farmer Malandainthe harness-maker The Mayor
Fifithe tavern maid Gendarmea police officer Town Crier
Peasant women : Madame Duroy Madame Swinburne Madame Valmont
Peasant men : Maufrigneuse Prunier Poittevin
2015 by Mack Lewis. All Rights Reserved ReadAloudPlays.com A Piece of String -- Page 2 of 15
HAUCHECORNE (aside): Ill just slip this into SWINBURNE: Bread, day old. And chickens.
my shirt, or maybe my trousers. Got more an I need.
N1: So, to make it appear his toils were of HAUCHECORNE: There are better loaves for
greater importance than they were, he half the price down the alley, but Ill trade you
pretended to be still looking for something on a franc and this small bag o pommes for two
the ground. of them roastin hens.
N2: Until finally going on his way, unaware SWINBURNE: Two? One, maybe. And the
that the little piece of string would be his ruin. scrawny one at that.
2015 by Mack Lewis. All Rights Reserved ReadAloudPlays.com A Piece of String -- Page 3 of 15
The flames from the ovens cast a lively heat as Hauchecorne swapped stories with his friends.
PRUNIER: The weather favors the green N3: As the drumbeat moved on, the diners
things, but heaven help ya if youre a wheat speculated about the lost pocketbook.
farmer.
FIFI: Whats twenty francs when you got five
HAUCHECORNE: Dont mean to boast, but my hundred?
wheats doin just fine.
PRUNIER: Theyll never see that wallet again.
MAUFRIGNEUSE: That so? I heard your wheat
was dead. VALMONT: Shame someone would run off
with it.
N3: Hauchecorne lifted his hand and spat.
N1: The tavern goes silent when a gendarme
HAUCHECORNE: Its the sacred truth. enters.
FIFI: Some unlucky fellow dropped his wallet! N2: Hauchecorne swallowed what was left in
his mouth and stood.
MAUFRIGNEUSE: And some lucky fellow
mustve found it! HAUCHECORNE: Well, my friends, the mayor
must need me for some important business!
CRIER: Whoever finds it is asked to return it
to the mayor's office. There will be a reward N3: The peasants rolled their eyes as
of twenty francs. Hauchecorne and the gendarme left together.
2015 by Mack Lewis. All Rights Reserved ReadAloudPlays.com A Piece of String -- Page 4 of 15
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