The Princess and the Goblin: book club questions by chapter

🦉 The Princess and the Goblin · meeting 1 of 4

Read: Part One, “The Great-Great-Grandmother” (pages 1–5, about 5 minutes aloud).
Stop at the end of page 5, and don't read on: the next part is for next time.

1. Why were the goblins living underground?
   The story's answer: They had been driven from their homes by a harsh old king
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 Great-Great-Grandmother". 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 Princess and the Goblin · meeting 2 of 4

Read: Part Two, “The Miner Boy” (pages 6–10, about 5 minutes aloud).
Stop at the end of page 10, and don't read on: the next part is for next time.

1. What was the goblins' second plan if the first failed?
   The story's answer: Drown the mines with underground water
2. 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.
3. The part we just read is called "The Miner Boy". 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 Princess and the Goblin · meeting 3 of 4

Read: Part Three, “The Thread”; Part Four, “The Mountain” (pages 11–18, about 8 minutes aloud).
Stop at the end of page 18, and don't read on: the next part is for next time.

1. Why could Irene see her grandmother, but Curdie only saw a bare garret?
   The story's answer: He was not yet ready to believe in what he could not understand
2. What does the grandmother mean by "seeing is not believing"?
   The story's answer: Believing takes more than just 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 "The Mountain". 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 Princess and the Goblin · meeting 4 of 4

Read: Part Five, “The Night of the Goblins” (pages 19–24, about 6 minutes aloud).
Stop at the end of page 24, the end of the story.

1. How did Curdie keep the goblins away?
   The story's answer: By singing rhymes they hated
2. 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.
3. The part we just read is called "The Night of the Goblins". 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. 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.