Essay Questions

Why were the reasons for why Grandmother wanted Elsa to give the letters to the people she wrote them to?

Grandmother was very close with her granddaughter, which is why she knew that she was having trouble in her life. She was bullied, didn’t have any friends, was unsure of her own capabilities. In addition to this, she knew that she had trouble with communicating with others and seeing other people’s perspectives, which is normal considering she is a seven-year-old girl. However, when giving out the letters, all these things improved, as she witnessed firsthand how other people live and the reason behind their actions.

Why did Elsa inherit Grandmother’s apartment?

In the end, after she had learnt to see from different point of views and had become a wholehearted better person at knowing who she was, Elsa received news. Instead of her mother inheriting her grandmother’s apartment, she did. This was the final straw of her taking action and responsibility of her own life, not letting her fears rule her. It was also more natural, as she was a lot closer and had a better relationship to her than her mother.

Why did Grandmother write the letters in the first place?

In the English UK version of the book, the book is title is translated to My Grandmother Sends Her Regards and Apologies, which is a better and more “correct” and precise translation of the originally Swedish title. Grandmother was a doctor, which was why she knew so many people; she operated and helped them. However, not having enough time for all the people in her life she didn’t feel like she was able to help them to her fullest capabilities. Therefore, as the UK title states, Grandmother wished to send her regards and apologies to those people.