My mother named me after a cow's rear end... Really, my mother had another name for me, a wonderful name, but no one ever heard it. They only hear the first part. The worst part.
-- Rump (Chapter 1 paragraph 1)

Importance: This quote sets the premise for the struggle that Rump had with his unusual name and his quest to find the rest of his name.

May I have the spinning wheel? . . .I don't have anything from my mother. She would've wanted me to have something of hers.
-- Rump (Chapter 2 paragraph 6)

Importance: Rump’s mother died when he was born. He is desperate to have something that belonged to his mother, something that she had touched.

Find a little extra gold and I'll have Opal show you how to spin. She is a fine spinner, but I've known some who possess a more... natural talent
-- Oswald (Chapter 3 paragraph 3)

Importance: This was a subtle hint from the greedy miller Oswald to Rump. Oswald was certain...