The Trojan Horse: book club questions by chapter

🦉 The Trojan Horse · meeting 1 of 3

Read: Part One, “Ten Years at the Walls” (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. Why could the Greeks not capture Troy for ten years?
   The story's answer: Its walls were too high and thick
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 "Ten Years at the Walls". 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 Trojan Horse · meeting 2 of 3

Read: Part Two, “The Gift on the Beach”; Part Three, “Inside the Walls” (pages 4–9, 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 nobody listen to Cassandra?
   The story's answer: She was cursed so that nobody would believe her
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 "Inside the Walls". 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 Trojan Horse · meeting 3 of 3

Read: Part Four, “The Night”; Part Five, “After” (pages 10–15, about 5 minutes aloud).
Stop at the end of page 15, the end of the story.

1. What did Laocoön mean when he said he feared the Greeks "even when they bring gifts"?
   The story's answer: He thought the gift was a trick
2. Why did Odysseus clap his hand over Anticlus's mouth?
   The story's answer: So he would not give away their hiding place
3. What lesson do people take from the wooden horse?
   The story's answer: Look carefully at a gift that seems too good to be true
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 "After". 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.