The Count of Monte Cristo: book club questions by chapter

🦉 The Count of Monte Cristo · meeting 1 of 3

Read: Part One, “Betrayed” (pages 1–3, about 4 minutes aloud).
Stop at the end of page 3, and don't read on: the next part is for next time.

1. Why did Villefort send Dantès to the Château d'If even though he knew he was innocent?
   The story's answer: The letter from Elba was addressed to Villefort's own father, and the truth would ruin his career
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 "Betrayed". 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.

🦉 The Count of Monte Cristo · meeting 2 of 3

Read: Part Two, “The Château d'If”; Part Three, “The Treasure” (pages 4–9, about 8 minutes aloud).
Stop at the end of page 9, and don't read on: the next part is for next time.

1. How did Dantès first meet the Abbé Faria?
   The story's answer: Faria's tunnel came up through the floor of Dantès's cell
2. How did Dantès escape from the Château d'If?
   The story's answer: He took Faria's place in the burial sack and was thrown into the sea
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 Treasure". 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.

🦉 The Count of Monte Cristo · meeting 3 of 3

Read: Part Four, “The Count”; Part Five, “Wait and Hope” (pages 10–14, about 7 minutes aloud).
Stop at the end of page 14, the end of the story.

1. Why did the count begin to doubt his revenge?
   The story's answer: An innocent child was swept up in the ruin of Villefort's family
2. The count ends by forgiving Danglars and writing "Wait and hope." What does the story suggest about revenge and mercy?
   The story's answer: Revenge can harm the innocent too, and mercy is how the count finally finds peace
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 "Wait and Hope". 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.
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.