1. Faulkner once said that there are only a handful of universal stories that each writer retells. What other stories of initiation resemble The Wishing Tree, and how is Faulkner's retelling unique?

2. As a children's writer, how does Faulkner resemble Lewis Carroll and A. A. Milne, two writers whom he admired?

3. From the list of related titles below, attempt to find elements in Faulkner's treatment of childhood that run throughout his work.

4. Several of Faulkner's most important works, such as The Sound and the Fury and Light in August, focus on the initiation to adulthood of adolescent girls. Describe Dulcie as a heroine, and show how Faulkner imbues her character with significance, perhaps through the use of mythic parallels.

5. Describe the social relationships of the children and the adults in the story.

What kinds of social disputes exist? How are the...