Story Sorority

Sunday, June 2, 2013

Why did the witch eat the apple? What effect did it have on her? Discuss what Aslan says to Polly: "That is what happens to those who pluck and eat fruits at the wrong time and in the wrong way. The fruit is good , but they loathe it ever after..."

Friday, April 5, 2013

March 2013: Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer

Civilization and technology

After the meteor strikes the moon, services such as telephone, Internet, and television stop, and Miranda writes in her journal that “Civilization has ended.” Do you think people are too dependent on electronic gadgets? Would you feel as Miranda does if you could no longer use the gadgets many people have come to depend on in their daily lives? How would you handle this situation?

Miranda's mom

Why is Miranda’s mom so angry about her leaving the food line to get Dan? Were you surprised by her anger?

Reverend Marshall

Why does Miranda call Reverend Marshall “despicable?” Do you agree with her? Why or why not?

What will happen?

What do you think will become of Miranda and her family?

Different ways of surviving

Miranda and her friends Sammi and Megan have different ways of surviving. Sammi leaves her home with a benefactor; Megan puts her faith in God; and Miranda stays put. Which one of those actions would you take to save yourself and your family, or would you do something different?

What would you do?

What is the likelihood of these types of events taking place? What are more likely scenarios that might cause this type of disruption to normal life? How would we cope with them? How far would you go to survive? Would you share? Steal? Hoard? What happens to our humanity in the face of imminent extinction

Monday, March 4, 2013

February 2013: Emma by Jane Austen

Classes

Describe the class and rank of various characters in the village of Highbury. Compare the positions of Mr. Weston, Mr. Elton, Miss Taylor, Harriet, and Emma with others in Highbury. How do matters of class affect the interaction of these characters, and would you describe class as being rigid or flexible as it is depicted by Jane Austen? To what extent can class be said to be of central importance to the development of the novel, since it is one of the most important considerations in marriage? Does class seem to be treated differently by those in Highbury than it does by outsiders, for example Frank Churchill and Mrs. Elton? Do you think it is significant that no woman in Highbury is of Emma's age and rank?

Mr. Knightley

How does the relationship between Mr. Knightley and Emma change throughout the course of the novel? Although Austen does not directly tell us what their relationship was like during Emma's childhood, their long and intimate friendship is established at the novel's opening. In light of their occasional quarrels and Knightley's criticisms of Emma, for example, the criticism he made on Box Hill, how does Mr. Knightley feel about Emma? Do Mr. Knightley's feelings change as the novel progresses? If they do, what incidents account for the changes in his feelings?

Emma and Harriet

Does Emma act as a good friend to Harriet Smith? Are Emma's concerns for Harriet's education and refinement born of an honest desire to help, or is it something less altruistic? Are Mr. Knightley's criticisms of Emma's interference with Mr. Martin's marriage proposal justified? Does Harriet ultimately benefit from Emma's friendship or her attempts to help her?

Matchmaking

While matchmaking is the central device in Emma, both for the plot and as a backdrop to develop characters, not all of the matches made in the novel are good. Compare the matches made between Mr. Weston and Miss Taylor, Emma and Mr. Knightley, Harriet and Mr. Martin, Jane Fairfax and Frank Churchill, and Mr. Elton and Mrs. Elton. Which are good matches and which are bad? What character traits in the couples make them suited or unsuited for each other? Why are the mismatches so important to the story?

Emma

In the final analysis, is Emma a sympathetic character? Does she seem to have good intentions only marred by a slight desire to interfere with other people's lives, or is she thoughtless and unconcerned with the effects she has on others? In your estimation, is Emma ultimately moral or immoral? What specific incidents in the novel lead you to that conclusion?

Friday, February 22, 2013

January 2013: Beyonders: A World Without Heroes

The Power of a Word

We’re introduced to the ever-important Word at the very beginning of the book. In what ways does the Word hold power in the story? In what ways do words hold power in your life? Are there times when words can serve as weapons? When do words become tools for good?

A Word

If you were to choose one special word that would best describe or define you, what would it be? Explain the significance of your choice.

Dangerous Knowledge

Jason and Rachel go on a quest for knowledge in A World Without Heroes as they search for the hidden syllables of the Word. How might you consider knowledge a prize in our world? Can knowledge ever be dangerous to us, as it is in Lyrian?

Galloran

Reflect on Galloran’s definition of a hero. What is your definition of hero? Whom would you consider heroes in your life?

Jason and Rachel

How did Jason and Rachel’s relationship change from the beginning of the book to the end? At what points did you notice a shift in how they interacted?

Maldor

Maldor is a ruthless ruler. He proves to be quite cunning in his methods for keeping control of Lyrian. How was his idea for Harthenham strategic in this way? In what other ways do Maldor and his followers (Copernum, for instance) make sure that no one would overrule him?

Ferrin

Ferrin plays a unique role in A World Without Heroes. What is your take on Ferrin? How would you explain Ferrin’s actions? Do you agree with them?

Destiny

Jasher says to Jason, “For each of us destiny is a blend of potential, circumstances, and choices." What does destiny mean to you? Do you believe in destiny?

December 2012: In The Dark Streets Shineth by David McCullough

Thoughts?

I am kind of copping out on this one because it is so far behind.. but what were your thoughts on this book? Anything you would care to share?

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

November 2012: Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis

What is Mere Christianity?

“There has been a great deal of soft soap talked about God for the last hundred years. That is not
what I am offering.” What, in your opinion, is Lewis offering us in Mere Christianity?

Enemy territory

What did you make of Lewis’ analogy of Christians as “living in enemy territory”? Is this a
biblical principle? In what other ways might the analogy be applicable to our lives?

A great moral teacher

Despite Lewis’ famous words about the foolishness of accepting Christ simply as “a great
moral teacher,” it seems that many people today still take that attitude towards Jesus. Why?

Pride

“The essential vice, the utmost evil, is pride.” Why does Lewis say so? Do you agree? How do we recognize pride in (a) others, (b) ourselves?
What should our reaction be?

Faith

“Faith is the art of holding on to things your reason has once accepted in spite of your changing
moods.” Would you agree with this definition of faith?

outside view

Do you find Lewis’ picture of God as outside time, viewing the whole of it at once, helpful?

fear

Lewis says that we are “naturally afraid” of the spiritual world. Should we be scared of it? If so,
why? If not, is our fear due to a wrong understanding of the spiritual world or a wrong reaction
to it?

The lesser of two evils

“The devil… sends errors into the world in pairs – pairs of opposites. And he always encourages
us to spend a lot of time thinking which is the worse… He relies on your extra dislike of the one
error to draw you gradually into the opposite one.” Can you think of any particular errors
Christians might be tempted to make out of a frantic desire to avoid their opposites?

humans

“Never, never pin your whole faith on any human being.” Is Lewis telling us never to trust
anybody?

Perfection

Is it possible to be perfect, as Christ told us to be? In what way(s)?

Niceness

“A world of nice people, content in their own niceness, looking no further, turned away from
God, would be just as desperately in need of salvation as a miserable world – and might even be
more difficult to save.” Do you agree that “niceness” can make people more difficult to save?
How?

Gaining by losing

It’s one of Lewis’ main premises that in turning to Christ we become real personalities, and more
ourselves. Do you agree that in order to gain your life you must lose it? What does the losing
involve?