The Pen Is Mightier Than the Sword

Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl

Sunday, 14 June, 1942 through Sunday morning, 5 July, 1942 (Pages 1-13)

 

 

Wednesday, 8 July, 1942 through Saturday, 3 October, 1942 (Pages 13-38)

1. Why has going into hiding become such a pressing matter?

2. Describe where the Franks go into hiding and with whom.

3. What is one of the first things the families do when they arrive in the Secret Annexe?

4. When Anne and the family first go into hiding, what is Anne afraid of the most?

5. Who is Peter and how does Anne describe him?

6. When the families go into hiding, they bring with them different objects from home.

What is unusual about the objects that Mrs. Van Daan brings with her?

7. With whom have personality clashes already started to occur? Why would there be

personality clashes? What conflicts are beginning to develop?

8.

 

In the attic, the families have an argument about books. Explain the argument, with

whom you agree/disagree and why.

9. How does Anne feel about Mrs. Van Daan?

10. How is the relationship between Anne and Peter developing? Speculate as to why Anne

has not spent more time writing about him.

11. How is Anne getting along with her family and roommates? Explain two situations that

illustrate your conclusion.

12. How are Anne’s feelings while in hiding similar to ones you might have? With which

feelings do you most identify?

13. What improvisation does Anne make in order to use the restroom when the plumber is

in the building?

14. Mrs. Van Daan celebrates a birthday on which she receives several gifts. Why is Anne

disgusted with Mrs. Van Daan?

 

Friday, 9 October, 1942 through Saturday, 7 November, 1942 (Pages 38-46)

1. What does Anne find out is happening to her Jewish friends?

2. Describe the accommodations where Anne’s friends are taken.

3. How does Anne describe Hitler?

4. Describe the scare Anne’s family had with the fire extinguisher?

5. How does Anne feel her parents treat Margot as compared to her?

6. To what does Anne compare herself?

Monday, 9 November, 1942 through Sunday, 13 December, 1942

(Pages 46-61)

1. What significant event for Peter happens today?

2. What happens with the British that has everyone excited?

3. How will the number of people in hiding change?

4. What does the family give Mr. Dussel upon his arrival to the Secret Annexe?

5. Describe the attempts at humor in the prospectus and guide. What makes it humorous?

6. How would you feel about having to share your possessions and space with other

people who are not family?

7. What comparison is made between slavery and how the Germans are treating the Jews?

Is it an accurate comparison?

 

8.

Anne describes the Germans and their treatment of the Jewish people. What is her

reaction to how the Jews are being treated? Describe your initial reaction when you

read about how mothers, babies, and the elderly are treated.

9. What does the description of how the Jews are treated demonstrate about the

Germans?

10. After a month in hiding with Mr. Dussel, Anne’s opinion of him has changed.

Compare Anne’s initial view of Mr. Dussel with her current view of him.

11. How did the families celebrate Chanukah and St. Nicholas Day their first year in hiding?

What is Anne referring to when she says “St. Nicholas Day”?

12. What was Mr. Van Daan’s occupation before he went into hiding?

13. What was Mr. Dussel’s occupation before he went into hiding? How does he set up

practice in the Secret Annexe? Who is his first patient?

Tuesday, 22 December, 1942 through Saturday, 27 March, 1943

(Pages 61-75)

1. In the entry for Wednesday, January 13, Anne describes the situation in Holland with

the Germans. She is concerned for what is going to happen after the war is over. The

last statement she makes in the entry is “Jews and Christians wait, the whole world

waits; and there are many who wait for death.” (Pg. 64) What is the significance of

this line? What does it tell you about Anne? What literary term is employed?

2. How does Anne feel she is being treated in the Secret Annexe? What simile does she

use to describe how she is feeling?

3. Why is Anne careful not to let people know how she is feeling? Anne makes a list of

her actions and how she feels people view those actions. What is included in the list?

4. Why does Anne not want to be like Margot?

5. The family has a close call in the Secret Annexe. What is it?

6. Describe some of the day-to-day problems encountered by the families.

7. Who may join the war?

8. Describe how each member of the family is feeling after having been in the Secret

Annexe for a significant amount of time.

9. On March 25, those living in the Secret Annexe have another scare. Describe what it is

and how the families deal with the situation.

Thursday, 1 April, 1943 through Monday, 26 July, 1943 (Pages 76-93)

Vocabulary

Clandestine–secret or hidden

1. Why was Anne’s mother so distraught? What did she mean when she said, “Love cannot

be forced.”? (Pg. 77)

2. Describe a situation when you have had similar problems with your parent(s). How

could Anne and her mother solve their relationship difficulties?

3. On May 1, Anne begins to think about her life before she and her family went into hiding.

What conclusion does she make? Describe the atmosphere in which the families

are living.

4. Why is the radio such a valuable commodity to the family?

5. Describe the conflict between Mr. Dussel and Anne? Describe how Anne has been previously

in dealing with conflicts in the Secret Annexe. How is she more mature in

addressing the conflict with Mr. Dussel?

6. What do the burglars steal from the warehouse?

7. Describe the wish each person hiding in the Secret Annexe makes for when they are no

longer forced to be in hiding.

8. On July 26, Anne begins describing her reaction to the war and how the bombings are

affecting her. What does she make in order to make herself feel more secure?

Thursday, 29 July, 1943 through Sunday, 17 October, 1943 (Pages 93-111)

1. How does Anne describe Mrs. Van Daan?

2. Describe what is happening in terms of the war.

3. Summarize the past year’s experiences living in the Secret Annexe on:

living conditions

food supply

relationships among the members of the Secret Annexe

Anne’s maturity

4. For several diary entries, Anne spends a great deal of time discussing daily events, living

in hiding, and the War. Supply two examples of something new that the reader

learns as a result of Anne’s discourse.

5. On August 9, Anne takes a turn describing each of the members of the house.

Summarize what she says about each, draw a conclusion about how she feels about

each of her housemates and how that view has changed over the past year.

6. Describe the relationship between Mr. and Mrs. Van Daan.

7. Explain how the members of the Secret Annexe spend their spare time.

8. When and why is it important that those living in the Secret Annexe are quiet?

Thursday, 29 October, 1943 through Wednesday, 5 January (Pages 112-131)

1. Describe the fights that are occurring between Mr. and Mrs. Van Daan. In light of the

war and the risk of being caught and sent to a concentration camp, what seems

insignificant about the focus of their fight?

2. How is Anne feeling? How does she describe herself?

3. What imagery does Anne use to describe “after the war”?

4. Anne spends a diary entry discussing her fountain pen. What was significant about it

for her to spend this much time devoted to writing about it?

5. What did the members of the Secret Annexe do to celebrate Mr. Dussel’s one-year

anniversary of living here? How was Mr. Dussel behaving?

6. Anne begins to think about her lost friend? Who is she? From where did she know

her? How is Anne feeling about her friend?

7. How did the occupants of the Secret Annexe celebrate St. Nick’s Day?

8.

What kept Anne from writing in her diary from December 6 until December 22?

9. As a new year begins, Anne looks back over several parts of her diary. What conclusions

does she make about her writing?

10. What two confessions does Anne make in her entry on January 5?

Thursday, 6 January, 1944 through Wednesday, 16 February

(Pages 131-156)

1. What makes Anne seek someone with whom to speak? Which person does she

choose? What is significant about her choice?

2. About whom does Anne dream?

3. When Anne’s mother’s birthday approaches, Anne claims to have learned something

about human beings. What does she feel she has learned?

4. On the Saturday, January 22 entry, Anne discusses Mrs. Van Daan. Her opinion about

her has changed. How does she feel about her now?

5. What changes are taking place in Anne and how does she account for them?

6. What subjects does Anne enjoy studying now?

7. Anne describes a political agency that is involved in helping the Jewish people. What

is it?

8. How is the relationship between Anne and Peter changing?

9. What does Anne think is wrong with Peter?

Friday, 18 February, 1944 through Thursday, 16 March (Pages 156-177)

1. Describe the problems both Anne and Peter have with their mothers. How do they deal

with them differently?

2. What new problems arise in the building? How is this time different from before?

3. How does Anne feel about falling in love?

4. Pay close attention to the entry on March 7. How does Anne describe her life in 1942

and now?

5. What is happening in the lives of the people who take care of those in the Secret

Annexe? If any of those people were to be arrested or die, what problems would that

create for those in the Secret Annexe?

6. How does Anne question her relationship with Peter? What type of questions does she

ask of herself

 

?

Friday, 17 March, 1944 through Friday, 14 April (Pages 178-209)

1. Describe the time that Peter and Anne spend together. What do they talk about? What

do they do?

2. Summarize the letters that are exchanged between Anne and Margot.

3. How did Peter compliment Anne?

4. Describe the atmosphere in the house concerning politics.

5. How do the other housemates feel about the time that Anne spends upstairs with

Peter?

6. What is the state of the war?

7. What are the conditions in Holland outside of the Secret Annexe?

8. What is the situation with food in the Secret Annexe? What are the meals like?

9.

 

What does Anne enjoy doing and how would she like to spend her time after the war?

10. List Anne’s hobbies and interests.

11. In the April 4 entry, Anne writes, “I want to go on living even after my death!” (Pg.

197) How does this function as foreshadowing, even though at the time it was written,

Anne would have been unable to foresee her future.

12. Summarize the break-in that Anne writes about in the April 11 entry.

13. What dangers can you foresee for the inhabitants of the Secret Annexe after what happened

in the warehouse?

Saturday, 15 April 1944 through Monday, 8 May (Pages 209-229)

1. What significant event happens to Anne? How does she feel about it?

2. How does Anne seem more mature than her fourteen years?

3. What do Anne and Peter decide to do about their relationship?

4. How does Mr. Frank react to the news about Anne and Peter?

5. Summarize the letter than Anne writes to her father concerning Peter and going

upstairs.

6. How does her father respond?

7. Explain how the two of them are able to rectify their relationship.

8. In the May 8 entry, Anne finally gives the reader an idea about her family’s background.

What were her parents like when they were growing up?

Tuesday, 9 May, 1944 through Monday, 5 June, 1944 (Pages 230-243)

1. Explain the funny scene with Mouschi the cat.

2. What is keeping Anne so busy?

3. Whose birthday has approached? What do the housemates do to celebrate the birthday?

4. Explain Anne’s health at the moment.

5. What does Anne want to name her first book?

6. Mr. Frank loses a bet. Why?

7. What questions and comments does Anne make about the invasion?

8. What happens to the vegetable man? What implications does that have for those living

in the Secret Annexe?

9. What is upsetting Anne about the people who are taking care of families in the Secret

Annexe?

10. The entry on June 5 is shorter than most, and yet it speaks volumes. What conclusions

can you draw from the entry about the conditions in which the families are living?

Tuesday, 6 June, 1944 through end (Pages 244-268)

1. What is today?

2. What is significant about what is happening?

3. What is the skepticism about what Anne hears is happening in the war?

4. How does Anne describe Franz Liszt, a man about whom many in the Secret Annexe

are reading?

5. Why is June 13 special to Anne?

6. What does Anne receive for her birthday?

7. How does Mrs. Van Daan feel about Anne?

8. Why does Anne feel that no one understands her?

9. How does Anne feel about nature?

10. What are the new problems that arise with Mrs. Van Daan?

11. What has happened to Kraler?

12. How and why has the mood changed in Holland, with those in the Secret Annexe, and

with the war?

13. What is happening to German women?

14. How does Anne feel about weakness of character?

15. What surprise fruit do the people in the Secret Annexe get? What do they do with it?

16. After they finish with the fruit, what is the next vegetable that they eat?

17.

 

What comment does Anne make about the book

What Do You Think of the Modern

Young Girl?

18. What does Anne feel is one of her weakest traits?

19. Describe the relationship between Anne and her father. What are its strengths and

weaknesses?

20. How does Anne feel about her relationship with Peter?

21. What happens to Hitler? What does Anne find unusual about it?

22. What name is Anne given?

23. What is Anne’s dual personality?

Afterword (Pages 269-283)

Part I

1. Who was unable to help frame the Treaty of Versailles?

2. What was the purpose of the Treaty of Versailles?

3. Who were the Allies?

4. What did the Treaty of Versailles place upon Germany?

5. How did Germany feel about the Treaty?

6. What does the word “Nazi” represent?

7. To whom does the Nazi party appeal?

8. How did Hitler come to power?

9. What is the “final solution”?

10. How many Jews had been murdered?

Part II –

1. When was Anne Frank born?

2. When did the Franks leave Frankfurt and to where did they go?

3. What does Mr. Frank establish in Holland?

4. When and where do the Franks settle when they meet again as a family?

5. When did the Germans invade Holland?

6.

 

Who are Mr. Frank’s business associates?

7. Who receives the first decree from the Frank family?

8. How do the Franks respond to the decree?

9. What is the extent of Hitler’s empire when the Germans invade Holland?

10. When does America enter the war?

11. When is the Allied invasion of France?

12. When are the Franks discovered?

13. Who are the

 

Kapos

?

14. When and where are Anne, Margot, and Mrs. Van Daan moved?

15. What happens to Mrs. Frank?

16. What happens to Mr. Van Daan?

17. What happens to Mr. Dussel?

18. What happens to Peter?

19. What happens to Mr. Frank?

20. Who did Anne find at Bergen-Belsen?

21. What happened to Mrs. Van Daan?

22. What happened to Margot?

23. What happened to Anne? How old was she when she dies?

Part III

1. When does the war end?

2. What was Mr. Frank going to do with Anne’s writing, sketches, and story when he was

first given them?

3. What does the person that betrayed those who were living in the attic receive as a

reward for those who were captured?

4. How has Anne’s wish to “go on living after my death” come true?

 

1. With what event does the diary open?

2. Describe the members of Anne’s family. How does she feel about the people around

her?

3. What does Anne name her diary?

4. Why has Anne decided to keep a diary?

5. Give five examples of anti-Jewish laws that limit freedom for Anne and her family, as

well as the rest of the Jewish people.

6. What is the succession of events that led up to what Anne describes as “when the good

times rapidly fled”?

7. Describe the relationship between Anne and boys.

8. What does Anne view as her worst subject in school?

9. Describe the precociousness of Anne and how she deals with her teacher, Mr. Keptor.

About what does Mr. Keptor complain?

10. Describe specific instances in which Anne shows herself more mature than other

people her age.

11. Compare and contrast Anne and her sister Margot.

12. When is the first mention of the Frank family going into hiding?

13. How does the reader know that going into hiding has been planned for longer than

Anne knows? How does Anne feel about going into hiding?

14. About what normal life experiences does Anne write?

 

The Once and Future King

BOOK ONE – The Sword in the Stone

Chapters 1 – 12

1. What does Kay’s lack of a nickname reveal about his character? Why is Arthur called

Wart?

2. For what reason does Kay claim the privilege of carrying the goshawk and flying her

instead of giving Wart a turn with the hawk?

3. Why does Wart decide to stay with Cully instead of going home with Kay? Why is this

an act of courage?

4. Explain the biblical allusion on page 17.

5. Find an example of personification on page 18.

6. Briefly describe King Pellinore. What is the Questing Beast, and why is Pellinore

searching for it?

7. Define anachronism and find an example of one when Wart first meets Merlyn.

8. Briefly describe Merlyn’s physical appearance.

9. Who is Archimedes? Why does Wart think he is special? List some characteristics about

owls that Merlyn believes make them special creatures.

10. Merlyn sets the breakfast table before Wart’s arrival. How does Merlyn explain to Wart

why the table is set for two?

11. At the end of Chapter Four, why does Wart exclaim, “I must have been on a Quest!”?

(Pg. 37)

12. List two magical feats Merlyn performs for Sir Hector to demonstrate that he is the

master of white magic. What limitation does Merlyn himself put on the use of magic?

13. What is the foreshadowing Merlyn uses on Kay?

14. How is Merlyn’s first spell communicated?

15. Merlyn is teaching life lessons to Wart by turning him into different creatures. What do

you think Wart might have learned by his encounter with the sick Mrs. Roach?

16. “Mr. P” or “Old Jack” is the King of the Moat. In the following passage, he discusses his

views on power, love, and pleasure.

“There is nothing,” said the monarch, “except the power which you pretend to

seek: power to grind and power to digest, power to seek and power to find,

power to await and power to claim, all power and pitilessness springing from

the nape of the neck.…Love is a trick played on us by the forces of evolution.

Pleasure is the bait laid down by the same. There is only power. Power is of

the individual mind, but the mind’s power is not enough. Power of the body

decides everything in the end, and only Might is Right.” (Pg. 52)

What life lesson does Wart learn from the King of the Moat’s views on power?

17. What happens to Wart’s celebratory arrow? What are the reactions of the two boys?

18. Find an example of a pun a page 7.

19. In Chapter Seven, Wart tells Merlyn that he wishes he were a proper son of Sir Ector in

order to be a knight like Kay. What would Wart do if he could be a knight? What would

he call himself?

20. In what ways can the match between Sir Grummore and King Pellinore be considered a

satire on knights and jousting matches?

21. In what ways does Merlyn think the hawks in the mews are like cavalry officers?

22. The colonel (Cully) makes frequent allusions, which seem to make no sense. List some

of them.

23. What lesson about life does Wart learn after spending the night with the hawks?

24. What metaphor describes Wart on page 86?

25. In Chapter Nine, Wart and Kay have a fight because Kay is jealous that Merlyn turns

Wart into different animals, but does not turn Kay into anything. Kay thinks Merlyn is

being unfair. Merlyn tells Wart the parable of Elijah and the Rabbi Jachanan. Briefly

summarize the parable and state the life lesson it is teaching.

26. Why is Merlyn unable to turn Kay into an animal? What does Wart’s insistence that

Merlyn provide Kay with an adventure reveal about Wart’s character?

27. Find an example of humor when Little John escorts the boys to see Robin. What is

unusual about the young boys having adventures with Robin Hood?

28. How does Robin describe the fairies? Who is Morgan le Fay?

29. Find a simile on page 108.

30. How are the Dog Boy, Friar Tuck, and Wat taken prisoner by the fairies? Why does Robin

want Kay and Wart to help rescue them?

31. Briefly describe a griffin. What does Kay ask Robin for as a prize for helping rescue Dog

Boy, Friar Tuck, and Wat? What reward does Wart want?

32. What does Morgan do to prevent her prisoners’ escape?

33. What kills the griffin?

Chapters 13 – 24

1. What does the sign, “EVERYTHING NOT FORBIDDEN IS COMPULSORY,” at the

entrance to the ant tunnel reveal about ant society? (Pg. 122)

2. Why is Wart frustrated when he tries to express himself in the ant language? Why is it

dangerous to ask a question?

3. Why does King Pellinore nurse the Questing Beast back to health?

4. In Chapter Seventeen Wart, Merlyn, and Archimedes discuss their favorite birds. Why

does Wart like the rooks, Archimedes prefer the pigeons, and Merlyn like the chaffinch?

5. Explain the irony at the end of Chapter Seventeen.

6. Why does Merlyn turn Wart into an owl? List one important characteristic about owls

that Wart learns in this adventure.

7. Review the following exchange between Wart and the goose. What lesson about life does

Wart learn from his experiences as a goose?

“Do you all come here from different places?” [asked Wart]

“Well, in parties, of course. There are some here from Siberia, some from

Lapland and I can see one or two from Iceland.”

“But don’t they fight each other for the pasture?”

“Dear me, you are a silly,” she said. “there are no boundaries among the geese.”

“What are boundaries, please?”

“Imaginary lines on the earth, I suppose. How can you have boundaries if you fly?

Those ants of yours–and the humans too–would have to stop fighting in the

end, if they took to the air.” (Pg. 170)

8. What can you infer from the last section of Chapter Nineteen, the conversation between

Kay and Wart?

9. How does Wart feel about the prospect of being Kay’s squire instead of being a knight

himself?

10. List the steps Kay must undergo to become a knight.

11. If Wart could be a knight, what would he want to do?

12. Sir Ector sends Wart to Merlyn so the old magician can help cheer up Wart. What does

Merlyn think is the best way to fight sadness?

13. What special physical characteristics does a badger possess?

14. Wart is unable to convince the hedgehog to uncurl because the hedgehog believes Wart,

who is now a badger, will eat him as soon as he uncurls. What advice does the badger

give to Wart on how to uncurl a hedgehog? State a lesson about life based on this advice.

(Hint: Remember the motto of the King of the Moat: “Might is Right”)

15. Briefly summarize the myth of how man became the master of the animals. State a life

lesson Wart learns from this myth.

16. The badger tries to educate Wart on the nature of war. The badger points out that man

is one of the very few species who make war on bands of the same species. For what

reasons does Wart think he would like to go to war?

17. Why is King Pellinore excited because King Pendragon is dead?

18. Wart does not know the story of the sword. Why, then, does he try to pull it out? What

happens to help Wart remove the sword?

19. What is Wart’s favorite present at his coronation?

20. Define a fantasy novel. List three elements of a fantasy novel found in Book One.

BOOK TWO – The Queen of Air and Darkness

Chapters 1 – 7

1. Trace the family relationship between Queen Morgause of Lothian and Orkney with King

Uther Pendragon. What is King Arthur’s connection to Queen Morgause? How do

Morgause’s sons, Gawaine, Gaheris, Gareth, and Agravaine, feel about the Pendragon

family?

2. Study the following passage from the story and use it to answer the following three

questions.

“You, see it is a question of the people, as well as of the kings. When you said

about the battle being a lovely one you were thinking like your father. I want

you to think like yourself, so that you will be a credit to all this education I have

been giving you–afterwards, when I am only an old man locked up in a hole.”

(Pg. 224)

3. What is Merlyn trying to encourage Arthur to do?

4. Why does Merlyn refer to himself as “…an old man locked up in a hole”? (Pg. 224)

5. Merlyn and Arthur discuss the reasons for fighting wars. According to Merlyn, what is

the destiny of Man? What question that Arthur asks makes Merlyn happy?

6. Find an instance of both anachronism and foreshadowing on page 226.

7. It is clear that Merlyn does not approve of wars; why does he tell Arthur, “There is one

fairly good reason for fighting–and that is, if the other man starts it.” (Pg. 232)

8. Describe King Conor’s death. What is the life lesson taught by the legend of his death?

9. In Chapter 6, Arthur begins to formulate his code of chivalry. What does he conclude

about the philosophy of Might is Right? For what reasons does Arthur believe Merlyn is

helping him to win battles, when Arthur knows Merlyn disapproves of war?

10. Briefly discuss the basic elements in Arthur’s plan to create an order of chivalry which

upholds the premise of Might for Right instead of Might is Right.

11. Why do Gaheris, Gawaine, Gareth and Agravaine decide to try and catch a unicorn?

12. Briefly describe the mythology of unicorns, which helps the boys know how to catch

one.

13. Which of Queen Morgause’s four sons is the leader? Which one is the most

compassionate?

Chapters 8 – 14

1. Describe the round table Arthur wants for his knights. Where does Arthur find a suitable

table?

2. How does Merlyn answer the King when Arthur suggests that a good reason for starting

a war might be to force people to accept a new way of life that might be good for them?

What Merlyn’s answer to Arthur’s question?

3. Define comic relief. Find an example of comic relief in Chapter 9.

4. Briefly summarize the parable about the man who comes face to face with Death. State

the life lesson Merlyn is teaching Arthur with this parable.

5. Merlyn tells King Arthur that Arthur’s tombstone will read “Hic jacet Arthurus Rex

quandam Rexque futurus.” (Pg. 287) Translated into English, this means, “the once and

future king.” Why do you suppose White selects this phrase for the title of this novel?

6. King Arthur fights the battle of Bedegraine in a new way. White writes that “Arthur

began with an atrocity and continued with other atrocities.” (Pg. 298) List three ways

Arthur alters the traditional way of fighting a battle. What literary term does White use

throughout the description of the battle?

7. What is a Spancel? How does Queen Morgause plan to use the Spancel when she visits

King Arthur?

8. Throughout these chapters, Merlyn is trying to remember something important that he

needs to tell Arthur. In Chapter 14, he finally remembers. What does Merlyn wish he

had remembered to tell Arthur? How do you think Merlyn’s failure might affect Arthur’s

future?

9. Who is Mordred? Why do you think White ends this second book with the following

passage: “…but it seems, in tragedy, that innocence is not enough”? (Pg. 312)

BOOK THREE – The Ill-Made Knight

Chapters 1 – 18

1. Why does Lancelot decide that when he is grown and becomes a knight, his name will

be the Ill-Made Knight?

2. Briefly describe Lancelot’s first meeting with King Arthur. After this meeting, what two

goals does Lancelot set for himself?

3. Uncle Dap helps Lancelot train to be a great knight just as Merlyn helped Arthur to

become a great king. Which mentor do you think is the most effective?

4. Why is Lancelot disappointed to learn from Merlyn that King Arthur has already established

a round table with one hundred knights?

5. The narrator in this story sometimes breaks the narrative to speak directly to the reader.

Find a short passage in Chapter 4 where the narrator does this.

6. In Chapter 4, Lancelot meets Guenever for the first time. Briefly describe her. How does

Lancelot feel about her at their first meeting? What happens at the end of Chapter 4 to

change Lancelot’s opinion of the Queen?

7. What is Arthur’s connection to the Orkney faction which includes Gawaine, Gaheris and

Agravaine? For what reasons does Arthur believe the Orkney knights are having trouble

adapting to King Arthur’s Order of Chivalry?

8. How does Arthur respond once he realizes Lancelot and Guenever are falling in love?

9. Why does Lancelot decide to leave King Arthur’s court to go on quests?

10. Briefly describe the two quests in chapter 8 that involve treachery.

11. How does Lancelot show his love for Guenever even when he is away on his quests?

What is lacking in the Queen’s relationship with Arthur, thereby making her vulnerable

to Lancelot’s love?

12. What is Arthur’s definition of civilization? Why does he think his plan of Might for Right

is no longer working?

13. A tragic flaw is a defect of character that brings about a great person’s downfall. Review

Lancelot’s feeling for the Queen as presented in Chapter 10. What do you think might

be Lancelot’s and Arthur’s tragic flaw?

14. Which of Lancelot’s adventures is White referring to in the following passage? What

miracle does Lancelot believe he performs as part of this adventure? Why do you think

he might look back on this adventure with “awful grief”?

“On the way to Corbin Lancelot had a strange adventure, which he remembered

for many years with awful grief. He was to look back on it as the last adventure

of his virginity, and to believe, day by day for the next twenty years, that before

it had happened he had been God’s man, while, after it, he had become a lie.”

(Pg. 369)

15. Lancelot is furious with Elaine when he realizes she is not Guenever. What does

Lancelot think Elaine has stolen from him? How does Elaine feel about Lancelot? Why

does she plan to call their child, if she conceives one, Galahad?

16. What excuse does White offer in Chapter 13 for Guenever’s ability to betray her husband

to seek out a relationship with Lancelot?

17. At the end of Chapter 15 White writes,

“Now, in their love, which was stronger, there were the seeds of hatred and fear

and confusion growing at the same time: for love can exist with hatred, each

preying on the other and this is what gives it its greatest fury.” (Pg. 386)

What is the nature of the hatred Lancelot and Guenever feel for each other?

18. Find a passage in Chapter 16, which helps the reader to understand why King Arthur

ignores the affair between Lancelot and the Queen.

S-15

19. At the end of Chapter 18, the Queen confronts Lancelot because Elaine has once again

tricked Lancelot into sleeping with her. The Queen orders Lancelot from the castle

telling him to “Never show your face in it again. Your evil, ugly, beastlike face.” (Pg. 395)

Lancelot seems to go mad, jumps from a window, and disappears. What inner demons

do you think this incident awakens in Lancelot, which pushes him over the edge into

insanity?

Chapters 19 – 45

1. How is Lancelot rescued from his madness?

2. Why does Lancelot now refer to himself as the Chevalier Mal Fet?

3. In Chapter 23, Lancelot’s son is briefly introduced. How is Galahad as a child different

than Lancelot was as a child?

4. Elaine knows that Lancelot is going to return to King Arthur’s court and Guenever. What

does she ask of Lancelot before he departs?

5. What is the legend of how Gareth becomes a knight? How does Lancelot feel about

Mordred?

6. Cite an incident from the story to help explain the following statement King Arthur

makes to Lancelot. “It [the round table] was a mistake because the Table itself was

founded on force. Right must be established by right…” (Pg. 428)

7. Now that England is civilized, there are no more battles for Arthur’s knights to fight.

Without outside challenges, the behavior of the knights is beginning to deteriorate.

What new direction for the knight of the round table does Arthur propose for his

knights? Define the Holy Grail.

8. Briefly describe Sir Galahad’s shield. Point out the significance of its design.

9. Why is Sir Lionel, in Chapter 29, annoyed with his brother Bors? Describe the four trials

Bors must undergo to prove to God that he is worthy of finding the Holy Grail.

10. In Chapter 30, King Arthur tries to counsel Aglovale, King Pellinore’s son, who is

determined to seek revenge for his brother Lamorak’s death. Arthur says to Aglovale,

“…a king can only work with his best tools.” What is he referring to? (Pg. 450)

11. Describe Lancelot’s appearance when he finally returns to Arthur’s court after searching

for the Holy Grail.

12. Who finds the Holy Grail? When will they be returning to Camelot? Why do you suppose

the Grail will not come to Camelot.

13. In Chapter 32, Lancelot tries to tell Arthur and Guenever what he has learned about

himself while looking for the Holy Grail. What does Lancelot consider to be his greatest

sin? What lesson about the nature of man do the birds teach Lancelot?

14. What did Lancelot have to do to be absolved of his past sins?

15. How does Lancelot defend his son Galahad when Arthur tells Lancelot that the other

knights dislike Galahad because they believe he is cold and inhuman?

16. Lancelot is denied the honor of going with Galahad to find the Holy Grail. In the passage

below, Lancelot tries to explain to Guenever why he was unworthy. What unspoken sin

keeps Lancelot from accompanying Galahad?

Guenever complained: “If you were in a state of grace, I can’t understand why

you should have been left.”

“It is difficult,” said Lancelot.

He opened his hands and looked between them on the table.

“Perhaps my intentions were bad,” he said at length. “Perhaps, inside myself,

unconsciously, you could say, I had not a proper purpose of amendment…”

The Queen was subtly radiant as she listened.

“Nonsense,” she whispered, meaning the opposite. She pressed his hand warmly,

and Lancelot took it away. (Pg. 468)

17. Chapter 34 discusses Guenever’s character. What explanation does White offer for

Guenever’s decision to have the affair with Lancelot? Why is his resolve to remain in a

state of grace difficult for her to accept?

18. What four reasons does Lancelot give to Guenever to help her to understand why he is

discontinuing their affair?

19. What is happening in court, in general?

20. How does Lancelot save the day for the accused Queen?

21. Why does Arthur fail to intervene to save Queen Guenever? In what way is this failure

an example of irony?

22. For what reasons does Lancelot decide to visit Elaine once again? How does Elaine die?

23. In Chapter 41, how does Lancelot manage to alienate the Orkney clan?

24. Why does Sir Meliagrance capture Queen Guenever? How does the Queen manage to

alert Lancelot to her troubles?

25. In Chapter 41, King Arthur fights against Lancelot in the tournament. Describe King

Arthur’s state of mind at this point in the story.

26. Sir Meliagrance accuses the Queen of sleeping with one of the knights when he discovers

blood on her bed. The blood is from Lancelot’s hand, but Meliagrance does not know

this. Lancelot tries to stop Meliagrance’s accusations by letting him know that if he

persists in accusing the Queen of adultery, Lancelot will be her champion and

Meliagrance will have to fight him. Meliagrance then says:

“I know you are the best knight in the world, but be careful ‘ow you fight in a

wrong quarrel. God might strike a stroke for justice, Sir Lancelot, after all.…”

[Lancelot] added very meanly: “So far as I am concerned, I say plainly that none

of these wounded knights was in the Queen’s room.” (Pg. 505)

How do you think Lancelot feels about himself at this point in the story? Elaine is dead,

Lancelot is sleeping with Arthur’s wife, and Camelot is decaying. What can be inferred

from Lancelot’s last statement above?

27. Why does Sir Meliagrance persist in his accusation that Queen Guenever has been

unfaithful to King Arthur? What does he do to help ensure his victory in the battle?

28. Lancelot escapes from Meliagrance’s dungeon and defeats him in battle. Meliagrance

asks for mercy, but the Queen refuses to give it to him. Why do you think Guenever

wants Meliagrance dead? What do you think of her decision?

29. At the end of Book Three, White writes:

In the middle, quite forgotten, her lover was kneeling by himself. This lonely

and motionless figure knew a secret which was hidden from the others. The

miracle was that he had been allowed to do a miracle. “And ever,” says Malory,

“Sir Lancelot wept, as he had been a child that had been beaten.” (Pg. 514)

Study this passage. What is the true miracle in the Sir Urre incident? Why do you think

Lancelot is portrayed as a beaten child?

BOOK FOUR – The Candle in the Wind

Chapters 1 – 9

1. Why do both Agravaine and Mordred dislike King Arthur?

2. How does Mordred plan to discredit King Arthur?

3. What occurs between Mordred and the brothers? What is the cause?

4. White writes that at the time of King Arthur’s rule, England is in the Middle Ages, but

that the Middle Ages are “not so dark.” He writes, “Lancelot and Guenever were gazing

on the Age of Individuals.” (Pg. 531) Describe some examples of life in Arthur’s

England, which help to support White’s beliefs.

5. In Chapter 4, why does Lancelot want to run away with Guenever? What reasons does

she give for staying with Arthur and continuing the affair?

6. For what reasons does Arthur believe Mordred is justified in hating him?

7. What is Arthur saying about justice in the following passage from Chapter 4?

“Far from being willing to execute his enemies, a real king must be willing to execute his

friends.” (Pg. 550) Why do you think Arthur is taking the time to explain his ideas of

justice to Lancelot and Guenever?

8. In what way, in Chapter 5, does Arthur suggest that justice decided by combat, is as

unfair as justice which is argued in a court?

9. Why do you think Arthur agrees to let Mordred break into the Queen’s room if Lancelot

is there?

10. Lancelot decides to go to Guenever even after being warned by Gareth that it is a trap.

Why does Lancelot fail to listen to this warning? What is ironic about Lancelot’s refusal

to listen?

11. Before going to Guenever’s room, Lancelot forgets his sword. How does he manage to

kill the first knight that enters Guenever’s room? Who is this knight?

12. Why does Lancelot fail to take Guenever with him after he fights his way out of her

room? What do the lovers exchange before parting from each other?

13. Of the men who went to Guenever’s room to trap Lancelot, why is Mordred the only

survivor?

14. Why do Gaheris and Gareth agree to help strengthen the guard around the doomed

Queen? Who else is going to help strengthen the guard?

15. Cite incidents from the story to prove or disprove the following statement: Arthur

believes that it is impossible to stop the consequences of an unjust act.

16. What proof is there at the end of Chapter 9 that Lancelot is responsible for Gareth and

Gaheris’ deaths?

17. The first line of Chapter 9 reads, “On a bright winter day, six months later, Joyous Gard

was invested.” (Pg. 587) Define what White means when he says Joyous Gard is

invested.

18. Why does Lancelot refuse to fight Arthur even though his own men are beginning to

think Lancelot is a coward?

19. What is Guenever’s solution to the problem?

Chapters 10 – 14

1. For what reasons does Gawaine plan to continue to seek revenge against Lancelot even

if the Pope restores Queen Guenever to her throne? Why does Gawaine believe he will

have King Arthur’s support?

2. What is Lancelot’s punishment for killing Gareth?

3. Why does King Arthur leave Mordred in England as the Lord Protector?

4. What evidence is there in Chapter 11 that Mordred is insane?

5. Briefly describe Mordred’s plan to take Arthur’s place as King of England.

6. In Chapter 12, Arthur makes the following generalizations about life. Under what

circumstances does he make them? Who is he referring to?

“People who say they are no good are always the good ones.” (Pg. 617)

“The bravest people are the ones who don’t mind looking like cowards.” (Pg. 617)

7. Why do you suppose Gawaine, on his deathbed, writes a letter of forgiveness to

Lancelot?

8. What assumption about the nature of mankind does Arthur believe, which he has used

as the basis for the structure of his life?

9. In Chapter 14, old King Arthur looks back on his life and tries to figure out the causes

for wars. List three possible reasons for war. At the end of the story, what does Arthur

conclude about the reasons man makes war?

10. What is the significance of the title of Book Four?

11. The last words in this novel are “The Beginning.” Why do you think White ends the

book this way? How does the ending of the book relate to the title of the novel?

12. Define tragedy. For what reasons do you think this story is or is not a tragedy?

Romeo & Juliet Web Quest
Name__________________________                                          

---

About Shakespeare
Copy this link and answer the following questions (1-7).http://shakespeare.palomar.edu/timeline/timeline.htm

1. Click on the link to Birth 1564 & Early Years. William Shakespeare was born in what year?

 

1. What date do we recognize as his birthday?

 

1. What was important about Stratford-upon-Avon in the 16th century?

 

1. Click on the link for 1594 and find the acting companies Shakespeare was associated with in the early days. Name one.

 

1. Click on 1599 The Great Globe. What is the probable year that Romeo and Juliet was written?

 

1. Scroll down to the section “Construction of the Globe,” and answer these questions: a. Where did the timbers to build the Globe come from? b. Who was the carpenter who built the Globe? c. What was Shakespeare’s share as “householder?”

  

1. What day and year did Shakespeare die? Why is this an interesting date? How old was Shakespeare when he died?

About Marriage
Copy this link and answer the next questions (8-10). http://elizabethan.org/

1. Romeo & Juliet marry secretly, but because she is trying to escape the arranged marriage to Paris. Read this site about marriage in the Renaissance. Name three marriage and betrothal customs found on this page.

  

1. Click on the link for “more wedding customs.”
   1. What color should the bride’s dress be?

 

1.  
   1. How is the intention to marry announced? What happens if it is not announced previous to the event?

 

1.  
   1. Describe the wedding procession.

 

1.  
   1. What is a dowry?

 

1. Explain how important is a wedding ring to the Elizabethans?

  About Food
Copy this link and continue (11-13).http://elizabethan.org/

1. How many meals do people generally eat each day?

 

1. Click here. Why would people in Shakespeare’s day not know what a chocolate chip cookie is?

  

1. Plan a small menu for a dinner using only food available in Europe during this time. Choose two vegetables, two meats, and two fruits or nuts.

Dinner Menu

 About Language
Copy this link and continue (14-16).http://elizabethan.org/ 14.  A famous line from Romeo and Juliet is when Juliet says, “Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?” What does “wherefore” mean?  15.  What does “stay” mean?   About Theatre in Shakespeare’s TimeCopy this link and then click on the link “Actors, Acting, & Audience” and continue (16-19).http://www.uni-koeln.de/phil-fak/englisch/shakespeare/

1. How many women actors did the company usually feature?

 

1. Was Shakespeare an actor? What was the term used to refer to actors?
2. How were the seating arrangements for the audience? How did one get a good seat?

 

1. What would the audience do if they did not like a performance?

  Shakespearean Insultshttp://www.mit.edu:8001/people/dryfoo/Funny-pages/shakespeare-insult-kit.html

1. Go to the Shakespearean Insult Kit and create your own insult. How you do it is to start with the word “Thou.” Next, take a phrase/word from the first column to begin your insult, continue by adding something from the second column, and finish it up royally with something from the third column. Type your own personal Shakespearean insult in the table below. [Thou + choice from column 1 + choice from column 2 + choice from column 3 = your custom made insult].

Click on this link to be insulted “professionally.”http://www.pangloss.com/seidel/Shaker/   

 

Go here: http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761552589/Ancient_Rome.html

to find answers to the questions on your handout (Sections 1-3).

Go here: http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761578066/Julius_Caesar.html

to find answers for Section 4.

1. War and weaponryDiscuss how wars were fought during this time period. What weapons were used? How were soldiers ranked?

http://www.historylink102.com/Rome/roman-army.htm

http://www.legionxxiv.org/weapons/Default.htm 

2. Political systemHow was the government during this time set up? Was it split into branches? Who was in charge? Were there any challenges to this type of system, or were people basically happy with it?http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/romans/government/index.htm

http://library.thinkquest.org/5166/gov.html 

3. Class systemWhat classes were people divided into? How was membership in these classes determined? What were some of the major differences between classes?http://www.historylink102.com/Rome/roman-patricians.htm

http://www.historylink102.com/Rome/roman-plebeians.htm 

4. Religion, signs, and superstitionsWhat type of religion did people follow? How did this religion influence their daily lives?

http://www.roman-empire.net/religion/religion.html (from the top of the page down to the beginnings of Christianity) 

5. Role of womenHow were women viewed and treated during this time? What were their daily lives like?

http://www.historylink102.com/Rome/roman-women.htm

I’d like you to blog your response to “A Modest Proposal.” Discuss these questions with your social action group, and then have one member post a blog entry in response.

1. What was your group’s overall response to the piece?

2. Which of the four satirical techniques did you see used? Where and how were they used?

3. Have you seen or heard of any modern satires that remind you of “A Modest Proposal”?

4. If you were to choose to use a satirical element in your cause, how could you use it? (You don’t HAVE to use satire…just discuss the possibility.)

This week’s assignment is fairly simple. Two parts:

1. Tell us one interesting/intriguing new thing you learned this week from your work in this class.

2. Tell us what your plans are for Spring Break. Will you be doing any work on your projects? : )

Please post your answers by 3:30 Friday, March 8.

Hey gang! I just read through all of your blogs, and your comments on each other’s blogs, and once again, you’ve exceeded my expectations! It’s so awesome to see all of your great ideas, as well as the support and other insights and resources you’re sharing with each other. Bravo!

I wanted to share a few ideas with you all…when NHS went to CU last week (Holocaust Remembrance Week), there were several student-run events and activities to draw the public’s attention to remembering the victims of the Holocaust that I thought might be intriguing ideas for your causes, potentially. One was the Field of Flags…students decorated a huge lawn with thousands and thousands of little plastic flags, each flag representing thousands of victims of the Holocaust. It was a chilling, moving thing to just stand and look at all of the flags, blowing in the breeze of the beautiful near-spring day, and imagine the horror each flag represented. Here’s an article about a similar event on another college campus: http://www.uvm.edu/theview/article.php?id=1654

Something else we saw on CU campus was groups of entertainers in the student center. They would play or sing music throughout the week, and every so often, they would stop and speak names…the names of Holocaust victims. I think their goal was to continue until they’d said the name of every victim they knew of.

Intriguing ways to draw attention to your cause…

Also, I was watching Oprah’s new show “The Big Give” last night…the whole premise of the show is that the everyday person can make a big difference…exactly what you’re all doing. It might be a good show to check out for other ideas, if you’d like.

And…dosomething.org has lots of other resources for you, including grants and other ideas.

This week, I’d like you to create two posts:

1. Your British author update. This time, I want you to tell exactly what you completed during the week. Account for your time spent…time reading, time working on the blog, time researching, time conferring with your partner, time conferring with me, etc. I don’t need to see exact numbers of minutes, but I’d like to know what you accomplished during the week. (Due by 3:30 Friday, February 29)

2. Brainstorming for your Social Action Research project action plan. List some ideas: Who will be involved in your project (are you working alone or with a group)? What specific aspect or aspects of your topic might you research? Who is your audience/who are you planning to influence or affect? Which person in power might you write your letter to? What other contacts do you need to make in order to make your idea a reality? Where and when will the public portion of your project take place?

I’d like to see several different ideas for each component of the action plan in this blog post. This isn’t your final action plan (and, indeed, the plan may change even after the “final” deadline)…it’s just a place to put some ideas out there and get some feedback on them. (Due by 3:30 Friday, February 29)

 3. Comments–please provide some SPECIFIC feedback to at least 5 other action plan posts. Be warm or cool, NOT CRUEL. A key here…no matter what you’re posting on someone else’s blog, imagine how you might respond if you received the same comment on your blog. Kind of the “Golden Rule” principle… (Due by 3:30 Tuesday, March 4)