by Neil Gaiman

Questions for Philosophical Discussion
by Ariel Sykes
____________________________________________________

The Role of Sayings:

When Lucy's mother reminds her of the saying, "If the wolves come out of the walls, then it's all over," Lucy questions what this means.

1. Have adults ever told you a saying like Lucy's parents told her? If so, can you give some examples?
2. Do you always understand what a saying like, "a stitch in time saves nine" means or what it is trying to tell you?
3. Where do you think sayings like this come from?
4. Why do we have such sayings?

In the book, neither Lucy's mother nor father can answer Lucy's question of "whats all over?" and "who says?"

1. How can you say something that you really do not understand?
2. Has this ever happened to you? Can you give some examples?
3. Does the saying, "if the wolves come out of the wall, then it's all over" help Lucy and her family?
4. Can such sayings be wrong? If so, how can we tell when they are wrong?
5. Has there ever been a situation where you said something you did not know was true or false?

The Nature of Bravery:

Lucy is the first to go back into the house and save her pig-puppet, while the rest of her family is too afraid of the wolves.

1. Why don't Lucy's parents go into the house first?
2. Do you think Lucy was brave in saving her pig-puppet?
3. Would you have been able to do this?
4. What makes Lucy brave?
5. Does doing something dangerous necessarily make you brave?

 

The Nature of Reality:

In the book, Lucy talks to her pig-puppet like a friend, but the adults find this silly.

1. Have you ever had a stuffed animal like Lucy's that you also talked to?
2. Do you think Lucy's closeness to her pig-puppet is silly?
3. Are there things you do that adults think are silly?
4. Are adults always right about this?
5. Why do you think Lucy talks to her pig-puppet?
6. Is the pig-puppet alive?
7. Does something have to be able to talk, move, eat, and sleep to be alive?

 

Morality:

At the end of the book, Lucy begins to hear elephants in the walls.

1. Lucy decides not to warn her family. Was this the right thing to do?
2. What do you think would happen if Lucy had told her family that she heard elephants in the walls?
3. Is Lucy lying when she doesn't tell her family?
4. Is it ever right to keep something from someone, and if so, how do you know when to tell them the truth?
5. Have you ever known something to be true but not told someone? If so, why not?
6. Is it ever okay to tell a "white lie" or to withold information?
7. What about the golden rule? Wouldn't you always want to be told everything and to be told the truth?

Back to Stories Page