Frederick
by Leo Lionni
Questions for Philosophical Discussion
by
Nicole Giambalvo
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Philosopical topic: The Nature of Community
..."I am gathering words. For the winter days are long and many, and we'll run out of things to say ."
- What makes a community?
- Try to think of some communities you are a part of. How do you know they are communities?
- Your school is a community and everybody contributes something to it. The mice have a community, too, and everyone is contributing something. What and how do the mice contribute?
- Does everybody have to do his or her part in a community?
- What does Frederick contribute?
- Frederick is a part of the mouse community. Does Frederick deserve to get some of the food even though he didn’t gather any of it?
- Do you think it’s fair that he gets some of the food? Why or why not?
Philosopical topic: The Nature of Work“I do work,” said Frederick. “I gather sun rays for the cold dark winter days.”
- Do you think Frederick is working?
- When do you feel like you’re working?
- If you like something is it still work?
- Do you think going to school is work?
- Is your favorite subject work? What about your least favorite subject?
- Does work have to be hard? Why or why not?
- What is the difference between work and play? Give an example of something you do that you think is work and something you think is play.
- Do you have to be paid for working? Why or why not?
- Some people play professional sports and they get paid, are they working?
- Do only adults work?
- Does work have to be physical? Why or why not?
- What can or can’t be work?
- Is thinking work?
Philosophical Topic: Value of Work"What about your supplies, Frederick?"
- What makes a type of work important?
- Do you think Frederick’s work was worth as much as the other mice’s work? Why or why not?
- If something is not important or not as important does that mean it’s not work?
- Can they both be equally important, but in different ways? What are the differences?
- What would have happened to the mice if Frederick hadn’t written poetry?
Philosopical topic: Nature of Poetry"But Frederick," they said, "you are a poet!"
- Do you like poetry? How about Frederick’s poem? Why or why not?
- Why do people write poetry?
- Is being a poet a job? Why or why not?
- Is poetry work or play? Why?
- Do people need poetry? Is it important? Why or why not?
- Was having poetry as important as having food for the mice? What about for people? Why or why not?
- Why is it important for people to have art such as paintings, poetry, and music?
