Jason and the Golden Fleece: book club questions by chapter

🦉 Jason and the Golden Fleece · meeting 1 of 3

Read: Part One, “The Man with One Sandal” (pages 1–3, about 3 minutes aloud).
Stop at the end of page 3, and don't read on: the next part is for next time.

1. Why did Hera promise to protect Jason?
   The story's answer: He carried her, disguised as an old woman, across a river
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 Man with One Sandal". 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.

🦉 Jason and the Golden Fleece · meeting 2 of 3

Read: Part Two, “The Voyage of the Argo”; Part Three, “The King's Impossible Tasks” (pages 4–8, about 6 minutes aloud).
Stop at the end of page 8, and don't read on: the next part is for next time.

1. Why was King Pelias alarmed when he saw Jason?
   The story's answer: Jason wore only one sandal, as the oracle had warned
2. How did the Argonauts know when to row through the Clashing Rocks?
   The story's answer: They followed a dove, and rowed as the rocks swung apart
3. 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.
4. The part we just read is called "The King's Impossible Tasks". 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.
5. 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.

🦉 Jason and the Golden Fleece · meeting 3 of 3

Read: Part Four, “The Dragon in the Grove” (pages 9–12, about 4 minutes aloud).
Stop at the end of page 12, the end of the story.

1. How did Jason defeat the warriors who sprang from the ground?
   The story's answer: He threw a boulder among them, and they fought each other
2. What does Jason's story suggest about how great things get done?
   The story's answer: Courage, kindness and help from others together achieve what one person cannot
3. 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.
4. The part we just read is called "The Dragon in the Grove". 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.
5. 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.
3. If you could ask one character a question, who and what would it be?
   Listen for: A good last question: it shows what puzzled each reader.
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.