Analyze the relationship between Leita and Rhea. How does their bond reinforce the story’s thematic focus on The Impossibility of Suppressing One’s True Self? What role does their relationship play in Mr. Peters’s development?

Examine Aiken’s narrative style. How does her tone contribute to her introduction of magical elements? What effect might the tone have on the reader’s interpretation of the story?

Analyze the thematic intersection of the impossibility of suppressing one’s true nature and Overcoming Possessive Models of Relationships. How do the decisions made by Leita and Mr. Peters reveal the relationship between these two themes? What moments in the text highlight their overlap?

Discuss the role of gender expectations in the story. How does Leita’s role as a wife reflect traditional expectations of women? In what ways does the narrative complicate these expectations?

Examine the role of transformation in the story. How does Aiken use Leita’s transformation to explore identity and belonging? How does this compare to the experiences of transformation found in other fairy tales?

Analyze Mr. Peters’s awareness of The Consequences of Desire. Why does he believe that he will avoid the mistakes that others have made? How does his determination contribute to the outcome of his first wish?

Discuss Aiken’s symbolic use of the three dead leaves. Why might she have chosen such fragile, ordinary objects to represent magical power?

Evaluate how Aiken balances fantasy and realism in “The Third Wish.” What effect does this balance have on the story’s tone and meaning? Cite specific examples from the text to support your argument.