The Hound of the Baskervilles: book club questions by chapter

🦉 The Hound of the Baskervilles · meeting 1 of 3

Read: Part One, “The Curse of the Baskervilles”; Part Two, “A Stranger in London” (pages 1–5, about 7 minutes aloud).
Stop at the end of page 5, and don't read on: the next part is for next time.

1. What did Dr. Mortimer find on the ground near Sir Charles's body?
   The story's answer: The footprints of a gigantic hound
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 "A Stranger in London". 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 Hound of the Baskervilles · meeting 2 of 3

Read: Part Three, “On the Moor” (pages 6–9, about 5 minutes aloud).
Stop at the end of page 9, and don't read on: the next part is for next time.

1. 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.
2. The part we just read is called "On the Moor". 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.
3. 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 Hound of the Baskervilles · meeting 3 of 3

Read: Part Four, “The Hound” (pages 10–13, about 6 minutes aloud).
Stop at the end of page 13, the end of the story.

1. Why did Holmes pretend to stay in London while Watson went to the moor?
   The story's answer: So the enemy would not know he was watching
2. Why was Sir Henry's boot stolen in London?
   The story's answer: It gave the hound Sir Henry's scent to follow
3. How did Holmes discover who Stapleton really was?
   The story's answer: He covered the hair and hat on Hugo's portrait and saw Stapleton's face
4. The curse seemed supernatural, but what does the story show was really behind it?
   The story's answer: A greedy man using an old legend and a painted dog to hide his crimes
5. 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.
6. The part we just read is called "The Hound". 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.
7. 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.