Paraphrased Classics: Discussion Questions

A Christmas Carol 1. What makes Christmas such an effective setting for the humanitarian issues (i.e. sympathy for the poor, needy children) Dickens was trying to address? 2. In what literal and figurative ways does Dickens portray Scrooge as isolatedfrom his family, coworkers, from the rest of humanity, even from himself? In what ways does Scrooge fit the "alazon" character type? 3. What important issues does Dickens use children and childhood to symbolize? 4. In what ways does Tiny Tim serve as the thematic center of A Christmas Carol? (How does he connect all the major characters/symbols/themes in this novella?) 5. What specific events lead to Scrooge's reformation? In particular, at what point in the story do we first begin to see him change (that is, when does he first begin to show emotions other than anger)? 6. In Stave Three, why is Scrooge so moved byand terrified ofthe children, "Ignorance and Want"? Why does the spirit tell him to "most of all beware [Ignorance]" (Dickens 49)? 7. What aspects of humor and parody do we see at work in A Christmas Carol? What kinds of social attitudes and/or institutions does Dickens satirize in this work?

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer 1. How does Tom Sawyer change over the course of the story? 2. Analyze the character of Aunt Polly and her relationship to Tom. 3. What role does alcohol and images of drunkenness play in the novel? Dracula 1. Discuss the roles of Lucy Westerna and Mina Harker in the novel. How are the two women similar? Different? What accounts for their differences? To what extent does the novel depend on both of these women to propel the narrative forward? 2. What are the elements of vampire folklore? For example, what, according to the novel, attracts or repels a vampire? How do you kill a vampire for good? Although Stoker did not invent the mythology of the vampire, his novel firmly established the conventions of vampire fiction. Choose another novel that deals with vampires and compare it with Dracula. (Consider, for example, one of Anne Rice's vampire books or Stephanie Meyer's Twilight series.) In what ways are the novels similar? Different? 3. Do you consider this novel a work of horror? Explain. 4. How does Stoker describe the Count? What are the effects of this description?

Paraphrased Classics: Discussion Questions

5. According to Van Helsing, why has Dracula decided to invade England?

Gullivers Travels 1. Why did Swift choose horses to represent good people and Yahoos (monkey men) to represent bad people? 2. Does Gulliver eventually find peace? What can Gulliver still not tolerate by the end of the story? 3. What comments does Swift (not Gulliver) make about religion in Gulliver's Travels? Use specific examples from the text to support your answers. 4. What effect did each of Gulliver's adventures have upon him? 5. What is irony? Give specific examples of Swift's use of irony in Gulliver's Travels and explain the effect of the use of irony on us, the readers. 6. Considering all of Gulliver's travels, explain what Swift would consider an ideal race of beings, and explain why or why not man is or could become that race. Hamlet 1. What is "rotten in the state of Denmark," as Marcellus tells us? What do we learn about the situation in Scene I? In Scene II? 2. How does the interaction between Hamlet and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern help to explain what's wrong with Hamlet? Why are Rosencrantz and Guildenstern in Denmark? 3. What happens in the "play-within-a-play"? How do the speeches and actions reflect on events in the kingdom of Denmark? How does the king respond? 4. Is Hamlet really mad in this play, or is merely pretending to be mad? (Find events that support your answer.) 5. Who is Osric, and why is he included in the play? 6. What is the outcome of the fight scene at the end?

The Hound of the Baskervilles 1. Holmes and Watson can be seen as the epitome of the crime-fighting duo. Discuss the way in which their personalities and skills complement each other. 2. What does a close reading of Chapter 1, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, reveal to readers about the character? 3. From what object did Watson and Holmes learn about James Mortimer? What clues did it provide? 4. Give at least three clues that were obvious to the solution of the mystery that Dr. Watson did not interpret correctly but Sherlock Holmes saw early on and used to solve the case.

Paraphrased Classics: Discussion Questions

The Hunchback of Notre Dame 1. Compare and Contrast Quasimodo and Esmeralda. Why are they perfect complements to each other? 2. Why Quasimodo is considered the protagonist of the plot? Explain his antagonists and the outcome of his story. 3. Give examples that foreshadow the tragic conclusion of the novel. 4. Define and find examples of: flashback, allusion, pun, metaphor and simile. 5. Claude Frollo has two sides to his personality. Compare his early aspirations and goals to his eventual downfall. 6. Describe Phoebus as a character. Explain if you think he is a villain. 1. What technique helped White Fang to fight successfully? Describe how White Fang had now developed in order to survive. 2. What law did White Fang know well? Following this law what did White Fang achieve? 3. Who saves Judge Scott, but at what cost? The Jungle Book 1. Why are the wolves willing to adopt Mowgli as one of their own? 2. Mowgli lacks the fangs and claws of some of the other animals and is often at a disadvantage. How does his handling of fire illustrate his dominance over the animals? 3. Fate is believed to be chance, fortune, luck, or destiny. Give examples of fate that led to good outcomes for Mowgli. 4. Tell what happened when Mowgli returned to live with the humans in the village. Did he ever return to see his friends? Did he remember and wisely use the lessons they had taught him? 5. Mowgli learns many things as he grows up with the wolves. What does he learn from being kidnapped by the monkeys? Macbeth 1. How is the outcome of the battle described in Act I related to the witches predictions concerning Macbeth? 2. Using examples from the play, explain which character, Macbeth or Lady Macbeth, is stronger and more ambitious in the plan to murder Duncan. 3. Explain the predictions of the witches and how these predictions come true at the end of the play. 4. What mood is established at the beginning of the play? 5. What is the relationship between Macbeth and his wife? 6. What is the turning point of the play?

Paraphrased Classics: Discussion Questions

The Merchant of Venice 1. Why has the character of Shylock such a puzzling, or stimulating character? 2. What do the choice of caskets made by the Prince of Morocco and the Prince of Arragon show about their fitness to marry Portia? Explain. 3. Relate Antonio's naturally melancholy disposition, which is emphasized in the opening scene, to his stoic acceptance of misfortune when he has to forfeit the bond. 4. Compare the argument about usury (I.iii), the talk about friendship (III.ii), and the plea for mercy (IV.i) from the standpoint of dramatic intensity. Which one of these subjects, in your view, is the most important issue in this play? 5. Many critics think that The Merchant of Venice is more tragic than comic. Why do you think so? Or do you disagree? Why? 6. Justify Shylock's demand for revenge against Antonio. 7. From references in the play, quotes, allusions, etc., describe Venice as a setting and as a city for this play.

Moby Dick 1. Why does the novel's narrator begin his story with "Call me Ishmael"? (p. 3) 2. How does Ishmael's relationship to Queequeg change from the time they meet to the sailing of the Pequod? 3. Why does Ahab pursue Moby Dick so single-mindedly? 4. Why does Starbuck decide against killing Ahab, despite believing that it is the only way to "survive to hug his wife and child again?" (p. 559) Why does Starbuck fail to convince Ahab to give up his pursuit of Moby Dick ("The Symphony")? 5. Why does the coffin prepared for Queequeg become Ishmael's life buoy once the Pequod sinks? 6. Who or what is primarily responsible for the destruction of the Pequod and, except for Ishmael, her crew? 7. How has his experience aboard the Pequod affected Ishmael?

Oliver Twist 1. Victorian attitudes suggested that poverty and vice were connected, and those born poor were bad from birth. In what ways did Dickens respond to these prevailing attitudes?

Paraphrased Classics: Discussion Questions

2. Some of the earliest reviews of the novel expressed concern because Oliver Twist encouraged sympathy for the poor and for those committing serious vices (thievery, murder, etc.). Consider the cheating done by respectable individuals like Mr. Bumble and Mrs. Mann, as well as the thievery of Fagins crew and Bill Sikes. How does the novel encourage and/or discourage vice? 3. Nature versus nurture. Oliver resisted thievery throughout the novel. Was his honesty an inherited trait? Which characters showed an honest nature, despite their circumstances and low birth? Which characters would have been dishonest, despite their circumstances? Or, conversely, did everyone have a chance to choose for themselves? 4. Consider the role of Monks in the novel. Despite his privileged upbringing, he turned to crime. Why does Fagin fear him? What commentary does Dickens make through Monks character? 5. Was Mr. Sowberrys influence on Olivers life positive or negative? 6. What relevance does Harry and Roses courtship have on Oliver? Pride & Prejudice 1. What kind of man is Mr. Bennet, the girls father? What kind of woman is Mrs. Bennet, their mother? 2. Describe Elizabeth and Darcy, the heroine and hero of the novel. In what ways does their behaviour inspire its tittle? 3. Describe the behaviour of Lydia Bennet. What type of young lady is she? 4. Both Wickham and the Reverend Mr. Collins possess character traits which are highly undesirable. Describe these negative traits in each character. 5. Describe the status of the five Bennet sisters and their parents when the novel ends. Romeo & Juliet 1. Why does Shakespeare tell us how the story is going to end? 2. What themes are established in the Prologue? 3. The nurse and Lady Capulet are both excited and pleased by Paris proposal but for different reasons. The nurse says Paris is a man of wax and at the end of the scene encourages Juliet to Go, girl, seek happy nights to happy days. What does the nurse see in Paris, and what does it reveal about her attitude toward love and marriage? 4. Lady Capulets lines 82-95 compose a conceit. A conceit is an extended, exaggerated comparison or metaphor between two unlike thingsin this case, between Paris and a book that needs to be bound. What does Lady Capulet see in Paris that would make him a good match for Juliet? What is Lady Capulets attitude toward love and marriage? 5. We learn from Romeos soliloquy (a speech delivered while the speaker is alone, calculated to inform the audience of what is passing in the characters mind) that he is struck by love at first sight when he sees Juliet at the party. Paraphrase Romes speech (lines 43-53). To what does he compare Juliet? How does this speech about his love for Juliet compare to his speeches about being in love with Rosaline?

Paraphrased Classics: Discussion Questions

6. What is Juliets response when she is told the news that she is to marry Paris (lines 116-123)? How has she changed since Act 1? What is her mothers reaction to Juliets response (line 124 and lines 139-140, Act 3)? 7. Highlight lines 169-170 in Act 5, Scene 3. Explain the lines. Swiss Family Robinson 1. As they are leaving the ship, each member of the family grabs supplies that they think will be important. What would you take? What do you think is the most important item to have on a deserted island? 2. When Fritz throws stones at the monkeys, they throw coconuts back at him. Do you think this was a clever strategy? Can you think of a better way to get coconuts? 3. Why do you think the family ultimately decided to destroy the wreck? Was it a good or a bad decision? What would you have done in their place? 4. The Robinsons celebrate the anniversary of landing on the island with a Thanksgiving Day. How is their Thanksgiving different the holiday we celebrate? 5. The family celebrates their first year on the island with a competition among the boys. Who did you think would win each event? What sport are you best at? 6. Why do you think the family decides to build a museum? Do you think this was a good idea or a foolish one? 7. Were you surprised that half the family decided to stay on the island? How did you expect the book to end? What would you have done in their position?

The Three Musketeers

1. Can you find any sympathy for Milady? Why or why not? 2. What is a hero? Who is the hero in the story and why? Support your answer with

examples from the book. 3. What is the major conflict in the book? What type of conflict is it? 4. How does Cardinal Richelieu affect d'Artagnan's rise to fame more than do d'Artagnan's friends? 5. Is Cardinal Richelieu, ultimately, a sympathetic or unsympathetic character?

White Fang 4. Talk about the relationship between wolves and human beings. Why do you think the Indians take White Fang to their camp? 5. How was one wall of his world different? How did he feel about it? Why is the gray pup confused about this wall? 6. What does the incident of the hawk teach the gray pup? As the cub wanders farther from the cave, how does his selfknowledge improve? 7. What important lesson of bondage did White Fang learn from Grey Beavers beating?

Paraphrased Classics: Discussion Questions