Beauty and the Beast book club questions
by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont · a kit for one meeting · 15 questions · printable
Fifteen discussion questions for Beauty and the Beast, grouped by one stretches of the book of about the same length, with a reading plan, themes to talk about and a sheet you can print. Two good openers: is Beauty's choice to take the merchant's place admirable, troubling, or both? And how much should appearance matter when deciding whether someone deserves your trust?
The reading plan
Meeting 1
Part 1
About 21 min to read
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Meeting 1: Part 1
- Is Beauty's choice to take the merchant's place admirable, troubling, or both?
- How much should appearance matter when deciding whether someone deserves your trust?
- What might lead Beauty to take the merchant's place, and which possible motive seems most convincing?
- What does the frightening palace add to your understanding of Beauty's choice?
- How would you weigh Beauty's care for the merchant against her own safety?
- Does discovering the master's goodness change how you judge Beauty's earlier decision to enter the palace?
- What would you need to know before deciding whether Beauty's sacrifice is fair?
- How might the story feel different if the palace were welcoming rather than frightening?
- What distinction, if any, would you make between kindness and goodness in discussing Beauty's discovery?
- How far should a daughter's duty to her father extend when fear is involved?
- What can the contrast between the frightening palace and its master's goodness suggest about first impressions?
- Would you describe Beauty's choice as courage, care, or something else?
- Does choosing kindness over appearance require ignoring appearance, or simply giving it less weight?
- What response would you consider fair from the merchant after Beauty takes his place?
- Which matters more to your reading: Beauty's willingness to enter the palace or her recognition of its master's goodness?
Five accounts for the price of one: the 15-minute summary today, the book to read and hear as it opens, printed copies, large print included, at cost. Try 3 months free
Themes to talk about
Tips for the host
- Open each meeting with one question everyone can answer, then go deeper.
- Anyone who fell behind can catch up with the 15-minute summary.
Free for 3 months
Get the full summary of La Belle et la Bête, free
- 200,000+ classics as eBooks, audiobooks and 15-minute summaries, and print and large print at cost
- Up to 5 readers in your home on one plan
15-minute summaries today, eBooks and audiobooks as each book opens, and printed books, large print included, at cost.
Try 3 months freeMore book club kits: The Raven · The Fall of the House of Usher · The Legend of Sleepy Hollow · All kits
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