The Three Musketeers: book club questions by chapter

🦉 The Three Musketeers · meeting 1 of 3

Read: Part One, “The Boy from Gascony”; Part Two, “All for One” (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. How did d'Artagnan end up with three duels on his first day in Paris?
   The story's answer: He bumped into, tangled with and embarrassed three musketeers in a hurry
2. What does "All for one, one for all" show about the four friends?
   The story's answer: Each of them would risk everything for the others, and they shared whatever they had
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 "All for One". 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 Three Musketeers · meeting 2 of 3

Read: Part Three, “The Queen's Diamonds” (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. Why did all four friends set out for London when only one needed to arrive?
   The story's answer: If the Cardinal's agents stopped some, one might still get through
2. How did the Duke of Buckingham replace the two stolen studs in time?
   The story's answer: He closed the ports and had his jeweler make two perfect copies
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 Queen's Diamonds". 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 Three Musketeers · meeting 3 of 3

Read: Part Four, “Milady” (pages 10–13, about 5 minutes aloud).
Stop at the end of page 13, the end of the story.

1. What did the Cardinal do when d'Artagnan showed him the paper with his signature?
   The story's answer: He wrote him a commission as a lieutenant
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 "Milady". 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.