Rip Van Winkle: book club questions by chapter

🦉 Rip Van Winkle · meeting 1 of 2

Read: Part One, “The Village by the River”; Part Two, “Thunder in the Mountains” (pages 1–8, about 7 minutes aloud).
Stop at the end of page 8, and don't read on: the next part is for next time.

1. Why did the children of the village love Rip?
   The story's answer: He flew their kites and told them stories
2. What did the ninepins sound like as they echoed through the mountains?
   The story's answer: Rolls of thunder
3. How did Rip first know that a long time had passed?
   The story's answer: His gun was rusty and his beard was long and white
4. 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.
5. The part we just read is called "Thunder in the Mountains". 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. 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.

🦉 Rip Van Winkle · meeting 2 of 2

Read: Part Three, “Twenty Years Later” (pages 9–14, about 5 minutes aloud).
Stop at the end of page 14, the end of the story.

1. Why had King George's picture at the inn been changed to General Washington?
   The story's answer: America was no longer ruled by the king
2. What does Rip's story show about the world?
   The story's answer: It keeps changing, even while you're not looking
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 "Twenty Years Later". 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. 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.