Story Reading Guides
Short Story Reading Guides help readers dive below the surface, allowing fictional stories to reveal personal truth. The story is just the beginning of the journey. Find out why particular characters, conflicts, settings, and descriptions touch your soul. Taking the time for self-reflection becomes a journey of self-discovery which can positively impact your life forever.
One Day at a Time and Other Stories
Secondary Level
1 How does reading a short story compare to reading a full-length novel? Can it have the same lasting impact? Why or why not?
2 Which characters did you find relatable? If none, how would you describe a relatable character?
3 Did any of the conflicts in the story seem particularly plausible? Have you experienced anything similar? If not, what would be an interesting conflict to center a story on?
4 Did any of the settings appear vivid to you? Does the setting act more like another character in the story or just a backdrop? Describe a setting, real or imaginary, you might like to visit.
5 Some endings leave the reader able to carry on the story in their own minds. Was there any story you would like to see continue?
Adult/Book Clubs
1 Which story sticks with you? What part of it resonated or clashed with you personally?
2 Generally, there is a resolution to each story, but not always a “happy ending.” Do the stories still feel complete? Is there a story you wish had ended differently? How might you have ended it?
3 Is there a character in the story that you recognize? Anyone seem so familiar you could see his or her face? Who and what is the personal connection?
4 Did any of the stories help you see a new perspective? Whose?
5 What setting grabbed your attention? Was that because it was familiar or so different from familiar settings? Would you like to visit that place?
Paperback/Journal Reflections
1 Which story(ies) did I react to emotionally? Why? What feelings did they stir up? Why might that be?
2 Did I wish for a different ending to any of the stories? Why that one? How would I have ended it? Why does it need a different ending?
3 What characters did I admire or feel attracted to? Do I wish there were more stories with these characters? What is the attraction? Do I have people in my life that fill these roles for me or am I missing these kinds of relationships?
4 What characters made me angry or simply ticked me off? Why? Do they remind me of anyone in particular? How do I deal with this kind of person in real life? If I were writing the story, what would happen to these characters?
5 Were there any details that jumped out at me? Settings? Scents, tactile experiences, images, sounds? Do I naturally resonate with these things or are they missing pieces in my life that I long to fill, perhaps with the time and peace of mind to notice them in the real world?
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The Road Goes Ever On—A Christian Journey Through The Lord of the Rings
Secondary
1 Tolkien was Catholic, but he never overtly expressed his faith in his writing. How is his personal value system revealed in his writings?
2 Catholic virtues and vices are discussed in The Road Goes Ever On book. What other virtues and vices could be added to reflect our current society?
3 The book reflects on the lives of saints. Is there anyone in your life who exemplifies the virtues of a particular character in Tolkien’s work?
4 The characters who engage in some form of vice seem to lose whatever virtues they once had. Is that true to life or are real people more complicated than that?
5 Who is your favorite character? Who is a character you love to hate? Do they remind you of anyone in your life?
Adult/Book Clubs
1 Does focusing on the Christian aspects of Tolkien’s work diminish or enhance the power of his story?
2 Considering virtues and vices in our modern world seems old-fashioned and out of date, where characters are now seen as “complicated” with mixed personalities. Does reflecting on the extreme nature of some of Tolkien’s characters still hold value in a world that often does not acknowledge the existence of evil?
3 A few select saints are considered in light of Tolkien’s heroic characters. Do you know anyone who could be said to fit the same mold, acting as light in a dark world, fighting modern “Rings of Power?”
4 Several modern “Rings of Power” are discussed in the book. What might be some others not mentioned?
5 The author attempts to link Tolkien’s writing to the modern world; are there other novels that could be considered in a similar fashion, allowing the reader to translate the meaning of the novel experience into personal lives today?
Paperback/Journal Reflections
1 Did the book inspire any resolutions in me? What might I change in my life after reading this book?
2 What “Rings of Power” influence my life? What character would I most like to talk with? Why?
3 Did any of the reflections in the book anger, annoy, or frighten me? Why?
4 Discussing private faith in public can be difficult these days. Does this book help me to reflect on my personal relationship with God in the safety of a private setting? Is there anyone I can safely discuss my thoughts and feelings with?
5 What virtues do I lack in my life? What vices plague me? How can I address my strengths and weaknesses honestly without feeling condemned? Can I envision God as Tolkien did, through the lens of good characters living out their best qualities offered through a hidden strength?
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