The Sword in the Stone: book club questions by chapter

🦉 The Sword in the Stone · meeting 1 of 3

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

1. 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.
2. The part we just read is called "The Boy and the Wizard". 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 Sword in the Stone · meeting 2 of 3

Read: Part Two, “The Stone” (pages 4–8, about 5 minutes aloud).
Stop at the end of page 8, and don't read on: the next part is for next time.

1. What happened when Lord Bartram tied a rope to the sword and his warhorse?
   The story's answer: The horse sat down in the fountain
2. Why did Kay suddenly become quiet when he saw the sword?
   The story's answer: He was ambitious and imagined that he could be king
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 Stone". 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 Sword in the Stone · meeting 3 of 3

Read: Part Three, “The Secret”; Part Four, “The King” (pages 9–16, about 8 minutes aloud).
Stop at the end of page 16, the end of the story.

1. Why did Arthur try to pull the sword from the stone?
   The story's answer: He had forgotten Kay's sword and needed one to borrow
2. How did Sir Ector find out that Kay had not pulled the sword himself?
   The story's answer: He tested both boys by putting the sword back, and only Arthur could draw it
3. What does the story suggest makes a good king?
   The story's answer: Being kind, polite and honest
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 King". 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 makes the main character a hero? Would you want them as a friend?
   Listen for: Heroes of legends are brave but not always kind; ask for both sides.
2. Which part of this could have really happened, and which part grew in the telling?
   Listen for: Legends often start from a real person or place.
3. How would the story change if someone else told it?
   Listen for: Try the villain's side.
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.