Book Club Discussion Questions
For supplemental discussion material see our Beyond the Book article, and our BookBrowse Review of The Sea of Trolls.
Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!
About The Book
In A.D. 793, eleven-year-old Jack leaves his family farm to become an
apprentice to the Bard, a druid from Ireland, who is assigned to his Saxon
village. At first, he is unsure of his duties, and is puzzled when the Bard
experiences a nightmare that Jack later learns foreshadows a rollicking and
dangerous adventure-quest with the Northmen, led by Ivar the Boneless. Jack
and his little sister, Lucy, are snatched by the berserkers and enslaved by
Olaf One-Brow and his shipmate, Thorgil. Accompanied by a crow called Bold
Heart, the two children encounter a sea of characters: humans and animals,
trolls and half-trolls. There are surprises around every corner, and just when
doom seems imminent, there is a bit of humor to lighten the suspense. Steeped
in Norse mythology and Saxon history, The story brings Jack and Lucy full
circle, but with a surprise ending.
Pre-Reading Activity
Ask students to research the unique elements in Greek, Roman, and Norse
mythology and share their findings in class. What are the significant
differences? List the most common figures and distinctive characteristics of
the Norse myths. Tell students to keep these in mind as they read
The Sea
of Trolls.
Discussion
- Good vs. evil is a common theme in fantasy novels. Discuss the good and
evil forces in The Sea of Trolls.
- Describe Jack's family. Contrast Jack's relationship with his mother to
his relationship with his father. Lucy, Jack's younger sister, appears to be
very spoiled. Why does Jack's father allow her to live in a fantasy world? How
does her fantasy world protect her when she encounters Queen Frith?
- Giles Crookleg is very religious. How does he convey his religion to
his children? Discuss how his religion is in conflict with his wife's practice
of magic. Jack learns from his mother how to talk to bees and how to soothe
frightened animals with song. What type of magic does he learn from the Bard?
What does the Bard mean when he tells Jack "Real magic is
dangerous"?
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- How does the author develop themes of identity and belonging throughout the narrative?
- What role does the setting play in shaping the characters' decisions and relationships?
- Discuss how the ending reframes the events of the story. Were you surprised?
Unless otherwise stated, this discussion guide is reprinted with the permission of Simon Pulse.
Any page references refer to a USA edition of the book, usually the trade paperback version, and may vary in other editions.