by Guy de Maupassant 1880

Welcome to the parent guide for this text! Read below to find out about what your child is reading in class and how you can support him/her at home.

This week in class, we’re reading "A Dead Woman's Secret" by Guy de Maupassant.

Guy de Maupassant was a popular French writer during the 19th century and considered one of the fathers of the modern short story. In this story, a brother and sister mourn the passing of their saintly mother and uncover a shocking secret.

As we read, we will be discussing the themes of Death and Identity as they relate to the text. We are trying to answer these big questions :

"How do people face death?" and "Can you change your identity?"

Ways to support your child:

  • Ask your child about this short story at home:
    • What was "A Dead Woman's Secret" about?
    • What did you learn about Death?
    • What did you learn about Identity?
  • Watch I Thought I Knew You at home with your child.