Frankenstein: book club questions by chapter

🦉 Frankenstein · meeting 1 of 3

Read: Part One, “The Ice”; Part Two, “The Spark of Life”; Part Three, “The Creature Speaks” (pages 1–6, about 8 minutes aloud).
Stop at the end of page 6, and don't read on: the next part is for next time.

1. What did Victor do the moment his creature opened its eyes?
   The story's answer: He ran from it in horror
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 Creature Speaks". 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.

🦉 Frankenstein · meeting 2 of 3

Read: Part Four, “The Cottage” (pages 7–10, about 5 minutes aloud).
Stop at the end of page 10, and don't read on: the next part is for next time.

1. How did the creature learn to speak and read?
   The story's answer: He listened through a chink in the wall as Felix taught Safie
2. 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.
3. The part we just read is called "The Cottage". 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.

🦉 Frankenstein · meeting 3 of 3

Read: Part Five, “Into the North” (pages 11–13, about 4 minutes aloud).
Stop at the end of page 13, the end of the story.

1. Why did the creature choose to speak to the blind old man first?
   The story's answer: The old man could not be frightened by how he looked
2. When the newborn creature reached out a hand, Victor fled. What does the story suggest might have changed if he had stayed?
   The story's answer: The creature might have learned kindness from his maker instead of cruelty from strangers
3. The creature says, "I was benevolent and good. Misery made me a fiend." What does the story suggest about why he became dangerous?
   The story's answer: Being rejected and alone, over and over, turned his goodness to rage
4. 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.
5. The part we just read is called "Into the North". 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.
6. 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. Which character changed the most from the beginning to the end?
   Listen for: Ask what changed them.
2. Which scene would you put on the poster if this were a film?
   Listen for: A way to find the scene that mattered most to each reader.
3. Is there a line or a moment you will remember? Why that one?
   Listen for: Let readers find it in the book and read it aloud.
4. Who would you give this story to, and why them?
   Listen for: A reader who can name the right person has understood what the story is like.
5. If you could ask the person who first told this story one question, what would it be?
   Listen for: Collect the questions; some have answers on the story's page in the library.