The Book Without Words_ A Fable of Medieval Magic - Avi [52]
FULWORTH and NORTHUMBRIA: Though the town of Fulworth is imaginary, as is the monastery described in this story, the Kingdom of Northumbria did exist. Founded in the seventh century by Anglo-Saxons, it lies in modern-day northern Great Britain, between the Humber River to the south, and the Firth of Forth to the north. As a kingdom, it existed in one form or another until the tenth century.
SAINT ELFLEDA was a real person. Born in 714, she was the sister of King Osway of Northumbria. A nun, she eventually became abbess at Whitby convent and played an important role in church affairs.
For information about the saints referred to in the story, see www.catholic.org/saints/
DISCUSSION GUIDE
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
ACTIVITY ONE: PROVERBS
ACTIVITY TWO: FABLES
GLOSSARY
AN INTERVIEW WITH AVI
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. How does the author establish a sense of time and place in this book? What are the images, the smells, the sounds that come into your mind as you think about Fulworth, Thorston’s workroom, the apothecary’s shop, and the churchyard?
2. “It is not death I fear, but life,” says Sybil in 3:9. What does she mean by this statement? Avi’s central theme is clearly stated in the proverb at the beginning: “A life unlived is like a book without words.” Describe how Sybil’s attitude toward life changes throughout the book.
3. Odo and Sybil learn that “magic takes what it gives.” What is another way of saying that in today’s terms? Why is this point so important to the story? How is this idea of magic different from magic you have encountered in other stories?
4. Reread the monk’s tale in 3:16 about the Book Without Words and how the book came into Thorston’s possession. Where do you think Brother Wilfrid spent the intervening years? Imagine how he must have searched for Thorston, where he must have gone, and what he must have had to endure.
5. Compare Alfric and Damian. Both have green eyes, but they respond to the temptations of the Book Without Words very differently. What do they have in common? Why do their fates differ so much?
6. “The law is hard, it is the law.” Why is this phrase repeated so often by Master Bashcroft? How does he use its message in his interactions with the community and how he sees himself?
7. Language has a power all its own in The Book Without Words. Latin from the mouth of the reeve justifies his actions. Magic words from the beak of a talking raven cause skulls to rise and hard objects to turn into water. What are other examples of the power of words?
8. What were your first thoughts on seeing the name of the book? What expectations did it raise? How did the story meet, change, or dash those expectations?
ACTIVITY ONE: PROVERBS
Proverbs are brief adages that speak truths. Odo, in particular, is given to saying proverbs at both appropriate (and very inappropriate) times. Alfric offers the occasional well-timed proverb as he becomes more at home. Review the proverbs below, find more, and then try to create your own proverbs. A proverb has these three elements: brevity, relevance, and cleverness.
“A fool is the first to think himself wise and the last to know it isn’t so.” —Odo (Chapter 2:1)
“The lengthier the life, the more locked the lip.” —Odo (2:9)
“Death is part of life.” —Odo (3:11)
“Live long enough, and all become orphans.”
—Odo (3:11)
“The shorter the sermon, the longer the truth.”
—Alfric (3:11)
“Time is like an oxcart wheel—it has no end or beginning but only rolls.” —Alfric (3:18)
“A sniff of gold makes all noses sneeze.” —Odo (3:18)
“A life unlived is like a book without words.”
—Epigraph
ACTIVITY TWO: FABLES
Fables have been a popular and powerful way to tell stories since ancient times. As Avi describes in his notes, a fable is “a supernatural tale in which animals speak and act like human beings … meant to exemplify a useful truth.” The most famous fables of all were written