diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 1be4860a..964529c8 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -14,6 +14,9 @@ This project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](http://semver.org/).
 - Rescue URI error when initializing a data string that contains a colon
 - Fragments with an odd number of components no longer raise an `undefined method `validate'`
   error
+- Incorrect instantiation of json documents as schemas when resolving fragments
+- Validation of a schema with validate_schema and a fragment validates the schema at the fragment pointer
+- Handling of fragment strings containing URI escaped values and pointers escaped with ~0 / ~1
 
 ## [2.8.0] - 2017-02-07
 
diff --git a/lib/json-schema/pointer.rb b/lib/json-schema/pointer.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9e6f4dc8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/json-schema/pointer.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,130 @@
+require 'addressable/uri'
+
+module JSON
+  class Schema
+    # a JSON Pointer, as described by RFC 6901 https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc6901
+    class Pointer
+      class Error < JSON::Schema::SchemaError
+      end
+      class PointerSyntaxError < Error
+      end
+      class ReferenceError < Error
+      end
+
+      # parse a fragment to an array of reference tokens
+      #
+      # #/foo/bar
+      #
+      # => ['foo', 'bar']
+      #
+      # #/foo%20bar
+      #
+      # => ['foo bar']
+      def self.parse_fragment(fragment)
+        fragment = Addressable::URI.unescape(fragment)
+        match = fragment.match(/\A#/)
+        if match
+          parse_pointer(match.post_match)
+        else
+          raise(PointerSyntaxError, "Invalid fragment syntax in #{fragment.inspect}: fragment must begin with #")
+        end
+      end
+
+      # parse a pointer to an array of reference tokens
+      #
+      # /foo
+      #
+      # => ['foo']
+      #
+      # /foo~0bar/baz~1qux
+      #
+      # => ['foo~bar', 'baz/qux']
+      def self.parse_pointer(pointer_string)
+        tokens = pointer_string.split('/', -1).map! do |piece|
+          piece.gsub('~1', '/').gsub('~0', '~')
+        end
+        if tokens[0] == ''
+          tokens[1..-1]
+        elsif tokens.empty?
+          tokens
+        else
+          raise(PointerSyntaxError, "Invalid pointer syntax in #{pointer_string.inspect}: pointer must begin with /")
+        end
+      end
+
+      # initializes a JSON::Schema::Pointer from the given representation.
+      #
+      # type may be one of:
+      #
+      # - :fragment - the representation is a fragment containing a pointer (starting with #)
+      # - :pointer - the representation is a pointer (starting with /)
+      # - :reference_tokens - the representation is an array of tokens referencing a path in a document
+      def initialize(type, representation)
+        @type = type
+        if type == :reference_tokens
+          reference_tokens = representation
+        elsif type == :fragment
+          reference_tokens = self.class.parse_fragment(representation)
+        elsif type == :pointer
+          reference_tokens = self.class.parse_pointer(representation)
+        else
+          raise ArgumentError, "invalid initialization type: #{type.inspect} with representation #{representation.inspect}"
+        end
+        @reference_tokens = reference_tokens.map(&:freeze).freeze
+      end
+
+      attr_reader :reference_tokens
+
+      # takes a root json document and evaluates this pointer through the document, returning the value
+      # pointed to by this pointer.
+      def evaluate(document)
+        reference_tokens.inject(document) do |value, token|
+          if value.is_a?(Array)
+            if token.is_a?(String) && token =~ /\A\d|[1-9]\d+\z/
+              token = token.to_i
+            end
+            unless token.is_a?(Integer)
+              raise(ReferenceError, "Invalid resolution for #{to_s}: #{token.inspect} is not an integer and cannot be resolved in array #{value.inspect}")
+            end
+            unless (0...value.size).include?(token)
+              raise(ReferenceError, "Invalid resolution for #{to_s}: #{token.inspect} is not a valid index of #{value.inspect}")
+            end
+          elsif value.is_a?(Hash)
+            unless value.key?(token)
+              raise(ReferenceError, "Invalid resolution for #{to_s}: #{token.inspect} is not a valid key of #{value.inspect}")
+            end
+          else
+            raise(ReferenceError, "Invalid resolution for #{to_s}: #{token.inspect} cannot be resolved in #{value.inspect}")
+          end
+          value[token]
+        end
+      end
+
+      # the pointer string representation of this Pointer
+      def pointer
+        reference_tokens.map { |t| '/' + t.to_s.gsub('~', '~0').gsub('/', '~1') }.join('')
+      end
+
+      # the fragment string representation of this Pointer
+      def fragment
+        '#' + Addressable::URI.escape(pointer)
+      end
+
+      def to_s
+        "#<#{self.class.name} #{@type} = #{representation_s}>"
+      end
+
+      private
+
+      def representation_s
+        if @type == :fragment
+          fragment
+        elsif @type == :pointer
+          pointer
+        else
+          reference_tokens.inspect
+        end
+      end
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/lib/json-schema/schema.rb b/lib/json-schema/schema.rb
index 4d2239f0..625c8ae9 100644
--- a/lib/json-schema/schema.rb
+++ b/lib/json-schema/schema.rb
@@ -6,7 +6,11 @@ class Schema
     attr_accessor :schema, :uri, :validator
 
     def initialize(schema,uri,parent_validator=nil)
-      @schema = schema
+      unless schema.respond_to?(:to_hash)
+        raise ArgumentError, "schema must be a hash; got: #{schema.inspect}"
+      end
+
+      @schema = schema.to_hash
       @uri = uri
 
       # If there is an ID on this schema, use it to generate the URI
diff --git a/lib/json-schema/validator.rb b/lib/json-schema/validator.rb
index c439b613..65f74191 100644
--- a/lib/json-schema/validator.rb
+++ b/lib/json-schema/validator.rb
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 require 'json-schema/errors/json_load_error'
 require 'json-schema/errors/json_parse_error'
 require 'json-schema/util/uri'
+require 'json-schema/pointer'
 
 module JSON
 
@@ -55,6 +56,11 @@ def initialize(schema_data, data, opts={})
       @data = initialize_data(data)
       @@mutex.synchronize { build_schemas(@base_schema) }
 
+      # If the :fragment option is set, try and validate against the fragment
+      if opts[:fragment]
+        @base_schema = schema_from_fragment(@base_schema, opts[:fragment])
+      end
+
       # validate the schema, if requested
       if @options[:validate_schema]
         if @base_schema.schema["$schema"]
@@ -64,42 +70,14 @@ def initialize(schema_data, data, opts={})
         # Don't clear the cache during metaschema validation!
         self.class.validate!(metaschema, @base_schema.schema, {:clear_cache => false})
       end
-
-      # If the :fragment option is set, try and validate against the fragment
-      if opts[:fragment]
-        @base_schema = schema_from_fragment(@base_schema, opts[:fragment])
-      end
     end
 
     def schema_from_fragment(base_schema, fragment)
       schema_uri = base_schema.uri
-      fragments = fragment.split("/")
 
-      # ensure the first element was a hash, per the fragment spec
-      if fragments.shift != "#"
-        raise JSON::Schema::SchemaError.new("Invalid fragment syntax in :fragment option")
-      end
+      pointer = JSON::Schema::Pointer.new(:fragment, fragment)
 
-      fragments.each do |f|
-        if base_schema.is_a?(JSON::Schema) #test if fragment is a JSON:Schema instance
-          if !base_schema.schema.has_key?(f)
-            raise JSON::Schema::SchemaError.new("Invalid fragment resolution for :fragment option")
-          end
-          base_schema = base_schema.schema[f]
-        elsif base_schema.is_a?(Hash)
-          if !base_schema.has_key?(f)
-            raise JSON::Schema::SchemaError.new("Invalid fragment resolution for :fragment option")
-          end
-          base_schema = JSON::Schema.new(base_schema[f],schema_uri,@options[:version])
-        elsif base_schema.is_a?(Array)
-          if base_schema[f.to_i].nil?
-            raise JSON::Schema::SchemaError.new("Invalid fragment resolution for :fragment option")
-          end
-          base_schema = JSON::Schema.new(base_schema[f.to_i],schema_uri,@options[:version])
-        else
-          raise JSON::Schema::SchemaError.new("Invalid schema encountered when resolving :fragment option")
-        end
-      end
+      base_schema = JSON::Schema.new(pointer.evaluate(base_schema.schema), schema_uri, @options[:version])
 
       if @options[:list]
         base_schema.to_array_schema
diff --git a/test/caching_test.rb b/test/caching_test.rb
index 4ccef910..49a356bb 100644
--- a/test/caching_test.rb
+++ b/test/caching_test.rb
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 require File.expand_path('../support/test_helper', __FILE__)
+require 'tempfile'
 
 class CachingTestTest < Minitest::Test
   def setup
diff --git a/test/fragment_resolution_test.rb b/test/fragment_resolution_test.rb
index 5fe90113..45ef0a8a 100644
--- a/test/fragment_resolution_test.rb
+++ b/test/fragment_resolution_test.rb
@@ -19,11 +19,11 @@ def test_fragment_resolution
     refute_valid schema, data
     assert_valid schema, data, :fragment => "#/properties/a"
 
-    assert_raises JSON::Schema::SchemaError do
+    assert_raises JSON::Schema::Pointer::PointerSyntaxError do
       JSON::Validator.validate!(schema,data,:fragment => "/properties/a")
     end
 
-    assert_raises JSON::Schema::SchemaError do
+    assert_raises JSON::Schema::Pointer::ReferenceError do
       JSON::Validator.validate!(schema,data,:fragment => "#/properties/b")
     end
   end
@@ -60,6 +60,34 @@ def test_even_level_fragment_resolution
     refute_valid schema, {}, :fragment => "#/foo/bar"
   end
 
+  def test_fragment_resolution_with_array
+    document = {
+      "definitions" => {
+        "schemas" => [
+          {
+            "type" => "object",
+            "required" => ["a"],
+            "properties" => {
+              "a" => {
+                "type" => "object",
+              }
+            }
+          },
+          {
+            "type" => "object",
+            "properties" => {
+              "b" => {"type" => "integer" }
+            }
+          }
+        ]
+      }
+    }
+
+    data = {"b" => 5}
+    refute_valid document, data, :fragment => "#/definitions/schemas/0"
+    assert_valid document, data, :fragment => "#/definitions/schemas/1"
+  end
+
   def test_array_fragment_resolution
     schema = {
       "type" => "object",
@@ -80,4 +108,31 @@ def test_array_fragment_resolution
     assert_valid schema, 5, :fragment => "#/properties/a/anyOf/0"
     refute_valid schema, 5, :fragment => "#/properties/a/anyOf/1"
   end
+  def test_fragment_resolution_with_special_chars
+    document = {
+      "de~fi/nitions" => {
+        "schemas" => [
+          {
+            "type" => "object",
+            "required" => ["a"],
+            "properties" => {
+              "a" => {
+                "type" => "object",
+              }
+            }
+          },
+          {
+            "type" => "object",
+            "properties" => {
+              "b" => {"type" => "integer" }
+            }
+          }
+        ]
+      }
+    }
+
+    data = {"b" => 5}
+    refute_valid document, data, :fragment => "#/de~0fi~1nitions/schemas/0"
+    assert_valid document, data, :fragment => "#/de~0fi~1nitions/schemas/1"
+  end
 end
diff --git a/test/json_schema_pointer_test.rb b/test/json_schema_pointer_test.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..af6f27e1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/json_schema_pointer_test.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+require File.expand_path('../support/test_helper', __FILE__)
+require 'json-schema/pointer'
+
+class JsonSchemaPointerTest < Minitest::Test
+  def test_initialize_parsing_fragment
+    pointer = JSON::Schema::Pointer.new(:fragment, "#/a%2520%20b/c~1d/e%7E0f/0")
+
+    assert_equal(['a%20 b', 'c/d', 'e~f', '0'], pointer.reference_tokens)
+  end
+  def test_initialize_parsing_pointer
+    pointer = JSON::Schema::Pointer.new(:pointer, "/a%20 b/c~1d/e~0f/0")
+
+    assert_equal(['a%20 b', 'c/d', 'e~f', '0'], pointer.reference_tokens)
+  end
+  def test_initialize_reference_tokens
+    pointer = JSON::Schema::Pointer.new(:reference_tokens, ['a%20 b', 'c/d', 'e~f', '0'])
+
+    assert_equal(['a%20 b', 'c/d', 'e~f', '0'], pointer.reference_tokens)
+  end
+  def test_initialize_bad_fragment
+    assert_raises(JSON::Schema::Pointer::PointerSyntaxError) do
+      JSON::Schema::Pointer.new(:fragment, "a%2520%20b/c~1d/e%7E0f/0")
+    end
+  end
+  def test_initialize_bad_pointer
+    assert_raises(JSON::Schema::Pointer::PointerSyntaxError) do
+      JSON::Schema::Pointer.new(:pointer, "a%20 b/c~1d/e~0f/0")
+    end
+  end
+  def test_evaluate_success
+    pointer = JSON::Schema::Pointer.new(:fragment, "#/a%2520%20b/c~1d/e%7E0f/0")
+    assert_equal(1, pointer.evaluate({'a%20 b' => {'c/d' => {'e~f' => [1]}}}))
+  end
+  def test_evaluate_empty_strings_success
+    pointer = JSON::Schema::Pointer.new(:fragment, "#/a///0//")
+    assert_equal(1, pointer.evaluate({'a' => {'' => {'' => [{'' => {'' => 1}}]}}}))
+  end
+  def test_evaluate_fail
+    assert_raises(JSON::Schema::Pointer::ReferenceError) do
+      pointer = JSON::Schema::Pointer.new(:fragment, "#/a%2520%20b/c~1d/e%7E0f/0")
+      pointer.evaluate([])
+    end
+  end
+end