The Death of Baldur: book club questions by chapter

🦉 The Death of Baldur · meeting 1 of 2

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

1. How did Frigga try to keep Baldur safe?
   The story's answer: She made everything in the world swear not to hurt him
2. Why did the mistletoe not take the oath?
   The story's answer: It was too young and weak to be worth asking
3. 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.
4. The part we just read is called "The Mistletoe". 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 Death of Baldur · meeting 2 of 2

Read: Part Three, “The Weeping World” (pages 8–10, about 3 minutes aloud).
Stop at the end of page 10, the end of the story.

1. How was Loki able to harm Baldur?
   The story's answer: He tricked Hodur into throwing the one thing that had not promised
2. What does the story suggest about plans that try to make someone perfectly safe?
   The story's answer: One small thing that was overlooked can undo them
3. What did Odin whisper to Baldur on the burning ship?
   The story's answer: That a new, bright world would rise after the old one burned
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 "The Weeping World". 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. 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.