Arachne the Weaver: book club questions by chapter

🦉 Arachne the Weaver · meeting 1 of 2

Read: Part One, “The Girl Who Wove”; Part Two, “The Old Woman” (pages 1–7, about 5 minutes aloud).
Stop at the end of page 7, and don't read on: the next part is for next time.

1. Who was the old woman with the walking stick?
   The story's answer: The goddess Athena in disguise
2. Who have we met so far, and what does each of them want?
   Listen for: Make a list together on the board; keep it for next time and add to it.
3. The part we just read is called "The Old Woman". Why do you think it has that name?
   Listen for: Any answer that points to a moment in the part is a good one; ask for the page.
4. Stop here. What do you think will happen next? Write or draw one guess to check next time.
   Listen for: Keep the guesses in an envelope. Don't say whether a guess is right: the next part will.

🦉 Arachne the Weaver · meeting 2 of 2

Read: Part Three, “The Contest”; Part Four, “Forever Weaving” (pages 8–15, about 6 minutes aloud).
Stop at the end of page 15, the end of the story.

1. Athena could find no mistake in Arachne's tapestry. Why was she still angry?
   The story's answer: The pictures made fun of the gods
2. Arachne saw the warning pictures in the corners of Athena's cloth. Why do you think she kept weaving rude pictures anyway?
   The story's answer: She was too proud to back down
3. What does this story teach about being very good at something?
   The story's answer: Being proud and rude can spoil a great gift
4. Why do scientists call spiders arachnids?
   The story's answer: Because they are named after Arachne
5. Look back at last time's guesses. Which came true, and what surprised you?
   Listen for: Read the guesses out. Nobody was wrong: a guess that missed often shows what the author wanted us to expect.
6. The part we just read is called "Forever Weaving". Why do you think it has that name?
   Listen for: Any answer that points to a moment in the part is a good one; ask for the page.
7. Now that you know the ending, was it the ending you expected?
   Listen for: Ask what in the earlier parts pointed to it, or pointed the other way.

About the whole story

1. What does this myth explain, or try to explain?
   Listen for: Many myths explain how something came to be: a season, an animal, a name.
2. Was the main character right or wrong? Was the ending fair?
   Listen for: Myths are often hard on people; let the group disagree.