Discussion Questions
- How had the villagers treated Asta and her son?
- Who had been Asta's only friend?
- As steward of the manor, how did John Aycliffe treat the peasants?
- Describe the stranger whom Asta's son saw in the forest clearing with John Aycliffe.
- What did object did the stranger take from his cape and hand to John Aycliffe?
- What did Asta's son believe about the things that were happening to him? (hint: see pg. 11)
- Asta was considered a cottar. What is a cottar?
- What had Asta told her son about his father?
- Why did Asta's son become convinced that there was some sin embedded in him?
- What happened to the one room dwelling that had been the boy's home?
- How old is Asta's son?
- What objects marked the western boundaries of Stromford Village?
- Were Crispin and his mother slaves? If not, what were they considered to be?
- During the spring, summer, and fall what kind of work was required of Asta, her son, and all the other Stromford villagers?
- What two things did the serfs gain by being under the total control of Lord Furnival and his steward?
- How did Asta's son come to discover his real name?
- To whom did the cross of lead originally belong? How did Crispin come to have it?
- Crispin said, "I looked upon her with fear and fascination." To whom was he referring?
- Who is Cerdic?
- When Crispin ran from Goodwife Pereguine's house, whose body did he come across?
- What did the steward, John Aycliffe, declare Crispin to be? What does this mean?
- Who is the patron saint of Stromford village? Why is this important to Crispin?
- Who is the oldest person living in Stromford?
- Crispin came upon a deserted village. What had happened there?
- Who did Crispin meet in that village? Describe that person.
- From what point-of-view is this story?
- Avi, the author, describes the landscape at one point like this: "To the west meandered the river Strom, glittering like a silver ribbon in the golden sun." What type of figurative language is this? Metaphor, simile, or personification?
- Crispin wanted to die- he prayed to die, even though he knew this was wrong. What did he see at the crossroads the following day that made him change his mind?
- What did Crispin think what he saw meant?
- What two things did Crispin decide at the crossroads?
- Here's one to make you THINK: This novel is an historical fiction. How does the author's decision to have his protagonist (Crispin) choose the path he did at the crossroads reflect the historical time period of the novel?
Next week we will talk about "allusion."
A literary allusion is a reference to an historical event or another work of literature that competent readers (this means "smart readers," which I want you ALL to be!) will recognize and understand. The allusion spurs the reader to think of additional ideas, associations and information with only a word or two. Allusions are common in the poetry and prose of most all cultures and time periods. They can also be found in television and in film.
source: http://www.ehow.com
There are a couple examples of allusion in what you have already read--on page 33 and again on page 63.
Take a peek and see if you can find them!