January 2010: Little Lord Fauntleroy by Francis Hodgson Burnett

Fauntleroy

How does Cedric deal with his newly found good fortune? What is his reaction when it seems he is about to lose his title? What else has Fauntleroy lost in his life?

Charity

What effect does Fauntleroy's charitable nature have on the Earl- or more specifically, on the things that the Earl does? How do other people view Fauntleroy's deeds, and how does this differ from their opinion of the Earl's actions?

Friends

Does Fauntleroy have the sort of friends that you would expect of a boy his age? Why are Dick and Mr. Hobbs so devoted to their young friend? What role does Mr. Havisham play in Fauntleroy's life?

The father

Although he dies before the story begins, Fauntleroy's father still serves as a sort of character. In what ways is his presence felt? What did Fauntleroy inherit from him?

Dearest

Discuss the character of Fauntleroy's mother. Why does he call her "Dearest"? What does she value? What effect do her decisions have on those around her?

The Earl

What sort of man is Fauntleroy's grandfather, the Earl? What does he want from his grandson? Why is Fauntleroy able to have such an effect on him?

Little Lord

What is it about Fauntleroy that makes him special? Do you think that he was born with these traits, or are they a result of how he has been raised?

December 2009: 1984 by George Orwell

Newspeak

Can you find any examples of Newspeak in our contemporary language?

Room 101

Discuss the idea of Room 101, the place where everyone meets his or her worst fear. Keeping in mind that for most of Winston’s time at the Ministry of Love, he does not know what he will find in Room 101, what role does that uncertainty play in making Room 101 frightening? Does the cage of rats break Winston’s spirit, or does it merely play a symbolic role?

Technology

How does technology affect the Party’s ability to control its citizens? In what ways does the Party employ technology throughout the book?

Winston

Describe Winston’s character as it relates to his attitude toward the Party. In what ways might his fatalistic streak contribute to his ultimate downfall?

Julia

Describe Julia’s character as it relates to Winston. How is she different from him? How is she similar to him? How does Julia’s age make her attitude toward the Party very different from Winston’s?

Doublethink

Discuss the idea of doublethink. How important is doublethink to the Party’s control of Oceania? How important is it to Winston’s brainwashing?

Images and Ideas

1984 is full of images and ideas that do not directly affect the plot, but nevertheless attain thematic importance. What are some of these symbols and motifs, and how does Orwell use them?

Recommendation?

Would you recommend this novel to a friend?

Relatable?

How does 1984 relate to current politics/society/etc.?

Controversy

Why is 1984 controversial? Why has it been banned?

Setting

How essential is the setting to the story? Could the story have taken place anywhere else? In any other time?

Central purpose

What is the central/primary purpose of the story? Is the purpose important or meaningful?

The end

Does the story end the way you expected? How? Why?

Likeable?

Do you find the characters likable? Would you want to meet the characters?

Character

How does George Orwell reveal character in1984?

The conflicts

What are the conflicts in 1984? What types of conflict (physical, moral, intellectual, or emotional) are in this novel?

Title

What is important about the title?

November 2009: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

Most popular children's book

The Harry Potter series is the most popular children's book series ever written. Why do you think it is so popular? Why do you think adults and kids both like it?

The professors

Consider the professors at Hogwarts, including Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Quirrell – what does each character stand for? What does Harry learn from each one?

Magical Companion

If you could have one magic companion, what would it be and why? Rat, cat, owl, dragon, unicorn . . .

Harry's advantages/disadvantages

What are the advantages to Harry not having known how special he is before he starts school? Disadvantages? What are some of the instances when Harry acts more like a bumbling Muggle than a great wizard?

sorting hat

What does the episode of the Sorting Hat reveal about Harry? What does it say about fate in the story? Is it always superior to human will?

The Dursleys

1. What are your impressions of Dudley?
2. Why do you think J.K. Rowling depicts the Dursley's as being so terrible?

Dumbledore's knowledge

At the end of Harry’s adventures, when the Sorcerer’s Stone has been safely destroyed, Dumbledore reveals to Harry that he devised the Mirror of Erised in the knowledge that Harry would succeed where Voldemort would fail. This admission raises the question of whether Dumbledore orchestrates other parts of Harry’s adventures too. Does he know, for instance, that the troll will be let into Hogwarts, and does he foresee Harry’s defeat of the troll? Is it possible that Dumbledore has a godlike foreknowledge of the whole story from beginning to end?

Harry and Voldemort

When Harry chooses his wand on Diagon Alley, he finds that the one right for him is the companion wand to the one sold long ago to Voldemort. Why does Rowling choose to emphasize a curious affinity between Harry and his great enemy, Voldemort?

Hogwarts vs. real world

How does the Hogwarts world compare with the Muggle world? Does Rowling want us to make such a comparison?

Dumbledore

Harry has no personal contact with Dumbledore until he is caught in the forbidden room where the Mirror of Erised stands. Why does this first close contact with Dumbledore occur in the mirror room? Is the situation more important than just a routine rule violation by a naughty student? If so, how?

Point of view

Throughout most of the story, we share Harry’s point of view. We see what he sees and experience what he experiences. In the first chapter, however, we are shown Mr. Dursley’s point of view as he drives to work, sees a cat reading a map, and encounters oddly dressed people on the streets. Rowling could have given us a more straightforward third-person story without any particular point of view. Why does she choose to show us Mr. Dursley’s thoughts and reactions in this first chapter?

Surprise results

In Chapter Nine, Harry disobeys a direct order from one of the teachers at the Hogwarts School and takes off on a broom. This infraction is normally cause for expulsion from the school. However, in Harry's case, it brings him the honor of being chosen as the "Seeker" for his Quidditch team. Can you find other instances in the story where Harry's actions lead to quite opposite results from what is expected? To what extent is the book's plot advanced by such surprise turns of events?

Good and evil

Quirrell tells Harry that "There is no good and evil, there is only power, and those too weak to seek it" (p. 291). Do you agree with this? Is this the reality of the world? Or if good and evil do exist, what makes them so? Which is more important in the world, power, or good and evil?

Name play

The author has more than a little bit of fun with names in this story. For example, the Professor of Herbology is Professor Sprout, and even the authors of the textbooks Harry must study are puns and riddles. Can you find other examples of this wordplay and show how the names reflect the characteristics of their owners? What about names that are the opposite of what you'd expect? — for example, the huge, terrifying three-headed dog named Fluffy? What effect do you think the author achieves with this name?

Borrowing from fantasy

Many novels of high fantasy borrow from the traditional stories of fairy tales, myths, and legends. The dog Fluffy which guards the trapdoor at Hogwarts School resembles Cerberus, the three-headed dog which guards the underworld of Greek mythology. What other creatures from traditional tales are paralleled in the story? How does each of these creatures play a pivotal role in advancing the plot?

Title chapters

. The title of each of the chapters provides some clues as to what will occur in each. Do the titles tell the whole truth? How do they reveal some of the more symbolic meaning of the story?

October 2009: Persuasion by Jane Austen

Recommendation

Would you recommend this novel to a friend?

Novels end

Did the novel end the way you expected? How? Why?

Likable characters

Did you find the characters likable? Are they persons you would want to meet?

Anne

Is Anne Elliot consistent in her actions? Is she a fully developed character? How? Why?

conflicts

What are the conflicts in Persuasion? What types of conflict (physical, moral, intellectual, or emotional) did you notice in this novel?

The title

What is important about the title?