The Book of the Dun Cow Discussion Questions and Glossary

Glossary

BASILISKS: a fabulous beast confused in bestiaries with the Cockatrice.

History of the Basilisk

According to legend, there are two species of the creature. The first kind burns everything it approaches, and the second kind can kill every living thing with a mere glance. Both species are so dreadful that their breath wilts vegetation and shatters stones. It was even believed that if a man on horseback should try to kill it with a spear, the power of the poison conducted through the weapon would not only kill the rider, but the horse as well. The only way to kill a basilisk is by holding a mirror in front of its eyes, while avoiding looking at it directly. The moment the creature sees its own reflection, it will die of fright.

However, even the basilisk has natural enemies. The weasel is immune to its glance and if it gets bitten it withdraws from the fight to eat some rue, the only plant that does not wither, and returns with renewed strength. A more dangerous enemy is the cock, for if the basilisk hears it crow, it will die instantly.

COCKATRICE: a fabulous beast (from the Greek: it means "little king" of the serpents). The basilisk, or cockatrice, is a creature that is born from a spherical, yolkless egg, laid during the days of Sirius (the Dog Star) by a seven-year-old rooster (not hen) and hatched by a toad. Men were poisoned by his look (but not the weasel) and rue could remedy his bite and the cock’s crow could kill him.

CANONICAL HOURS:

Chauntecleer crows the hours, which are still prayed in the Catholic church today:

“The purpose of the liturgy of the hours is to sanctify the day and the whole range of human activity. Therefore its structure has been revised in such a way as to make each hour once more correspond as nearly as possible to natural time and to take account of the circumstances of life today.” [57] – from GENERAL INSTRUCTION OF THE LITURGY OF THE HOURS, Congregation for Divine Worship

These times of the day are put aside for prayer (with their traditional Latin names)

• prime-before sunrise

• lauds-at the rising of the sun (morning prayer today)

• terce-three hours after sunrise

• sext-six hours after sunrise

• none-nine hours after sunrise

• vespers-at sundown (night prayer today)

• compline-before sleep.

CHAUNTECLEER: traditional name for the rooster in beast epics. From the Old

French: “to sing a crow.” Chanticleer in Chaucer.

THE BOOK OF THE DUN COW: title of a Gaelic (Irish) folklore manuscript

written down in 1100 A.D., and so named because it is bound in brown (dun means the color brown) cowhide.

HENS: all are named after popular medieval gem stones: Beryl, Chalcedony,

Chrysolite, Emerald, Jacinth, Jaspar, Sardonyx and Topaz.

LORD RUSSELL, THE FOX OF GOOD SENSE: traditional name for the

clever fox in beast epics. He is "Reynard" in French, and "Russell" in Chaucer’s

Nun’s Priest’s Tale.

MUNDO CANI DOG: from the Italian expression mondo cani: a dog’s world; or Latin for mundo: world, and canis: dog. Could also be the ablative of mundus, which would change the translation to PURE DOG. Isn’t dog spelled backwards God? Hmm.

NIMBUS: a radiating light around the head; in art history, the name of haloes!

PERTOLOTE: Chanticleer’s favorite wife in Chaucer’s The Nun’s Priest’s Tale. She is his equal in looks, manners, and talent.

SENEX: a characteristic name for the old man, usually a comic character typically

foolish, gullible, and nearsighted because of his vanity. Most familiar is the senex

amans, old lover, of Latin comedy.

TEREBINTH OAK: in the Old Testament, the sacred tree of the pagans at Shechem.

Terebinth: (R.V. marg. of Deut. 11:30, etc.), the Pistacia terebinthus of botanists (aka turpentine tree); a tree very common in the south and east of Palestine.

“The early Druids regarded the oak tree as sacred and carried out their religious rituals in oak forests. In fact, the name Druid means "knowing the oak tree" in Celtic. The mistletoe, a plant that often grows on oak trees, also had an important role in the religion. According to the ancient Roman writer Pliny, Druids worshiped the mistletoe because they believed it had dropped from heaven and offered a sign that the oak tree upon which it grew had been selected by their god. Furthermore, the Druids associated the mistletoe with healing powers.”

Note from Mrs. B: From what I found on the internet, the terebinth is actually a scrub-like, small evergreen related to the pistachio tree, from which turpentine is made. But apparently there is confusion about whether God appeared to Abraham under an oak tree or this evergreen shrub. Someone more learned in sacred scripture than I could perhaps fill us in. But I DO know that the pagans of northern England held the oak tree as sacred, so maybe that is what the author is referring to with Cockatrice’s breeding grounds under the terebinth. That interpretation is good enough for our reading!

P.S. Yes, Katherine Patterson, who wrote The Bridge to Terabithia, found the word in CS Lewis’ The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. No, I don’t know why he chose the term to describe an island.

WYRM: Old English for dragon or snake.

Remember: I am looking for thoughtful answers, not compositions. In other words, don’t worry about grammar or spelling. The point of answering these questions is to prepare you to articulate clearly your thoughts and opinions during class discussion. You will be able to bring your notes with you to the discussion to use as a reference, which is why I insist that you must give evidence from the text for your answers, including page numbers. If someone asks you for clarification or challenges your answer, it is best to have a page number handy for yourself. There’s no point in bringing your notes if you can’t read them, though, so either type them or make sure they are legible. The week before the discussion, I will check your notes to make sure you are making thoughtful progress, and are not leaving them for the last minute.

Choose either #1 or #2 or #3; then continue on with all the rest.

1. What are the Crows Potens? How do they differ from the other crows?

2. List the oddities of the conception, birth and growth of Cockatrice.

3. How does Pertelote cure John Wesley Weasel and Chauntecleer in Chapter 28?

4. How has God arranged the cosmos in the world of this story? How is it different from ours?

5. What is Chauntecleer’s purpose? Who is he? Why is he in charge of the coop? What is his hidden past? What are his weaknesses/strengths?

6. This book is named after one of the oldest surviving Irish manuscripts (from around 1100 A.D.). That book, also called The Book of the Dun Cow, is a collection of Irish tales written down in a DUN (brown) book made of COW leather (vellum). In your opinion, what would be a better name for this book?

7. Who or what, in your opinion, is the Dun Cow? What does she do?

8. What actions allow Wyrm to be released from his underground prison?

9. Beryl could be called a prophetess. Why do think that could be? How do you see the fantasy element of “the power of words” fleshed out in her character?

10. Who, in your opinion, is the true hero of this story? Why? What qualities make him/her a hero?

11. List as many Christian allusions (references to Christ; an incidental either directly or by implication) as you can find; add brief explanations.

12. Mrs. B does NOT believe you can say this book is mostly fairy tale, or mostly myth, or mostly fantasy novel. So instead of categorizing it, choose ONE of the following characters. Describe the character, tell which subgenre of faerie their “bones” might have come from (myth, fairy tale or fantasy novel), and explain why you came to this conclusion. What do you like most or find most interesting about this character?

Tick Tock

John Wesley Weasel

Mundo Cani

Pertelote

Beryl

Lord Russel

Choose ONE of the following scenes with Chaunteleer’s prayers:

EITHER chapter 7/8 OR chapter 16 to answer #13.

13. Is Chaunteceleer praying to the same God we pray to? Why does he start praying (what event prompted the prayer)? What exactly is included in his prayer? (hints: Arguing? Complaining? Talking? Thanking? Asking?) Is his prayer answered? If so, how? How is he changed afterwards? Does he lose his faith? Should we pray like this?

You MUST use your “Thinking about Meaning in Faerie Stories” handout from class to help you think about and answer ONE of the following questions:

14. What is the “Meaning of Life, Death and Existence” in this book?

15. What is the “Nature of Good and Evil” in this book?

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Discussion Questions for The Book of Three

Remember: I am looking for thoughtful answers, not compositions. In other words, don’t worry about grammar or spelling. The point of answering these questions is to prepare you to articulate clearly your thoughts and opinions during class discussion. You will be able to bring these notes with you to the discussion to use as a reference, which is why I insist that you must give evidence from the text for your answers, including page numbers.

If someone asks you for clarification or challenges your answer, it is best to have a page number handy for yourself. There’s no point in bringing your notes if you can’t read them, though, so either type them or make sure they are legible. The week before the discussion, I will check your notes to make sure you are making thoughtful progress, and are not leaving them for the last minute. You have a total of 11 questions to answer. Include reference pages in the text that prove your answer. Use this system:

Chapter 8, 3^rd page (p.75), “Aslan a Man!”

You might also want to mark that exact paragraph with a sticky note for discussion day, so you can quickly turn to the correct reference.

Warming Up – choose three (3) of the following:

1. What gifts were given to the companions & why are they important?

2. What makes Achren such a dangerous person?

3. Why is this book called The Book of Three?

4. Describe Eilonwy. What kind of person is she?

5. A story within a story! What was the point of Medwyn’s story about Gwythyr and the Lame Ant?

Going Deeper – choose six (6) of the following:

6. Why would Gwydion say that removing the memory of laughter and tears from the Cauldron Born was one of Arawn's cruelest acts? What do you think?

7. Why did Medwyn offer Taran a place in his valley? Would he have done this for the Taran who started the story? Why did Taran refuse? Was this a wise or foolish choice?

8. What, or who, is Gurgi? How does Taran’s understanding of Gurgi change through the book?

9. Imagery is language used to appeal to the five senses (we studied this last semester). When Lloyd Alexander describes the destruction of the Horned King in chapter eighteen (“The Flame of Dyrnwyn”), what kind of imagery is he using? In other words, what senses is he appealing to and how does he do it?

10. How is Taran different now that the adventure has ended? Tell how he changed, and whether or not you think he is a hero. Give reasons why or why not.

11. What do you think Dallben means when he says, "We learn more by looking for the answer to a question and not finding it than we do from learning the answer itself"? Do you agree? Why or why not?

12. Explain Gwydion's statement in Chapter II, "It is not the trappings that make the prince, nor indeed the sword that makes the warrior." What does he mean? How could this apply to modern life?

13. Chapter X: The royal blood. Eilonwy interprets the writing on the sword.: "I don't think it's good enough to be a king's son or even a king himself. Royal blood is just a way of translating; in the Old writing, it didn't mean only having royal relatives -- anybody can have those…." What is the author saying?

Common Elements of Fantasy Questions – choose 1 of the following 3

Look at your “Thinking about Meaning in Faerie Stories” handout. Using the questions on that handout, think about ONE of the following questions and answer it. You MUST give evidence from the text. (If you have read the other books in the series and want to include quotes from them, you may, but reading more than the assigned book is NOT necessary.)

14. What is the “Nature of Magic” found in this book?

15. What is the “Nature of Good and Evil” in this book?

16. What is the “Great Battle” in this book? Describe the different forces.

Everyone MUST answer the following question:

17. What elements of fairy tale do you find in The Book of Three? What elements of fantasy novel do you find? Which subgenre of faerie story: romantic fantasy novel or fairy tale, does this book seem to fit into best? (For the discussion, you will tell which one you chose and give your reasoning.)

Discussion Questions for The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

You will have a total of 8 questions to answer. Although I WILL NOT be grading grammar or spelling, I would like you to use complete and legible sentences. You will only be allowed your copy of the book a bible, and your own discussion question answers during the Socratic Discussion. I WILL be grading these answers, and your discussion group, but I will be looking for thoughtful answers presented in a pleasant and scholarly manner.

Include reference pages in the text that prove your answer. Use this system:

Chapter 8, 3^rd page (p.75), “Aslan a Man!”

You also need to mark that exact paragraph with a sticky note for discussion day, so you can quickly turn to the correct reference.

Warming Up – choose two

1. How does the reader know that the White Witch's magic is weakening? How is the strength of her power reflected in the seasons?

2. In chapter 11 Edmund is forced to face the true nature of the Witch. What does he learn about her? What name does she detest? Why do you suppose that is? Which common element in fantasy does this illustrate?

3. Which is your favorite character? Tell why, giving examples from the things he does or says that explain why you like him most.

Going Deeper – choose four

4. What reasons does the Professor give for trusting Lucy more than Edmund when their stories disagree? How does he demonstrate logic? How does this demonstration enable him - and us - to believe in Narnia? Have you ever heard this argument used for faith in something else? If so, please explain.

5. In chapter seven the children hear about Aslan for the first time. Each of them responds differently. How do each of them feel when they first hear about him? Why do you suppose they react so differently?

6. Why do you think the beavers say, “Aslan is not safe, but he is good?” (This same idea is reiterated in later books as “Aslan is not a tame lion.”) What do you think this means?

7. What is the deeper magic the White Witch doesn't know about? Why do you think this deeper magic is so mysterious to her? What is the role of the Emperor-Beyond-the-Sea in the novel?

8. In chapter 10 the children meet Father Christmas. How is he described? How is he like the traditional image of Santa Claus? How is he different? What is he doing in the middle of this story? What is the significance of Father Christmas's arrival? What does he seem to represent? What does he give to the children? Are they toys?

Allegorical Questions

Choose one of the following three events in the story, all of which strongly relate to our Catholic faith. Please explain the Christian meaning, using quotes from scripture to prove your point. Be sure to give details from The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe which parallel the details found in Sacred Scripture.

9. In chapter 13 the Witch claims Edmund as her "lawful prey."

10. In chapter 14 Lucy and Susan follow Aslan to the Stone Table and witness his sacrifice.

11. In chapter 15 Aslan is resurrected.

Common Elements of Fantasy Questions – choose one

Look at your “Thinking about Meaning in Faerie Stories” handout. Using the questions on that handout, think about ONE of the following questions and answer it. You MUST give evidence from the text. (If you have read the other books in the series and want to include quotes from them, you may, but reading more than the assigned book is NOT necessary.)

12. What is the “Nature of Magic” found in this book?

13. What is the “Nature of Good and Evil” in this book?

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Discussion Questions for The Princess and the Goblin

Remember: I am looking for thoughtful answers, not compositions. In other words, don’t worry about grammar or spelling. The point of answering these questions is to prepare you to articulate clearly your thoughts and opinions during class discussion. You will be able to bring your notes with you to the discussion to use as a reference, which is why I insist that you must give evidence from the text for your answers, including page numbers. If someone asks you for clarification or challenges your answer, it is best to have a page number handy for yourself. There’s no point in bringing your notes if you can’t read them, though, so either type them or make sure they are legible. The week before the discussion, I will check your notes to make sure you are making thoughtful progress, and are not leaving them for the last minute.

Choose either #1 or #2, then continue on with all the rest.

1. Make a chart of the characters in the story: write down which ones believe Grandmother exists, which do not, and the reasons for their belief or disbelief.

2. Explain what the goblins are (how they turned into goblins). Why are they so angry? What do they hate? What is their plan for revenge?

3. Does any part of the story (or any of its characters) remind you of another book? Explain your comparison.

4. Who or what do you think Grandmother is? What powers does she have? What does she think is important?

Choose EITHER Princess Irene OR Curdie to answer #4:

5. How does his or her faith grow throughout the book? How does he or she help others with her faith?

6. Grandmother lives in three rooms containing many marvelous objects-- among them, a silver bath, a fire of roses, her crown, a magic lamp, and intelligent pigeons. What is the significance of each of the three rooms? Choose two or three of these magical objects and tell what their possible Christian symbolism might be.

7. How is Curdie a hero? How is Irene a hero? Give your opinion: Which do you think is the greater hero (if either), and tell why you think so.

Use your handouts from class to help you think about and answer the following questions:
Choose either #8 or #9, then continue on to #10.

8. What is the “Nature of Magic” found in this book?

9. What is the “Nature of Good and Evil” in this book?

10. What elements of fairy tale do you find in The Princess and the Goblin? What elements of fantasy novel do you find? Which subgenre of faerie story: romantic fantasy novel or fairy tale, does this book seem to fit into best? (For the discussion, you will tell which one you chose and give your reasoning).