Book Club Discussion Questions for Graceling by Kristin Cashore

Book Club Discussion Questions

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For supplemental discussion material see our Beyond the Book article, Nanotechnology in Medieval Times and our BookBrowse Review of Graceling.

Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!

Not a discussion guide, as such, but a fun quiz that could lead to discussion! .....

Are You Graced?
Take this quiz to find out!

1) If you were cornered by an army of the king’s soldiers, would you:
  a) Fight each and every one to the death (not yours, theirs)?
  b) Make a mad dash for it?
  c) Surrender peacefully with your dignity, but trembling inside?
  d) Play dead?

2) Choose your preferred weapon:
  a) your own two hands and brute strength
  b) dagger
  c) bow & arrow
  d) none—you’re a pacifist

3) If you were lost in the woods, would you:
  a) Rely on your keen sense of direction and environmental cues to find your way?
  b) Always refer to a trusty map (if you have a map)?
  c) Ask locals for directions (if there are locals)?
  d) Wander aimlessly to see what, or who, you come across and pray not to die?

4) Do you know how to build and light a fire without matches in the snow?
  a) Yes, and it would light on the first attempt.
  b) Yes, but it might take a while to get the fire started.
  c) No, but I’d be willing to give it a shot.
  d) No, I’d get frostbite.

5) Would you rather:
  a) Fight a mountain lion?
  b) Fall in love?
  c) Overthrow a corrupt king?
  d) Sleep?

6) Your best friend is:
  a) a studly warrior prince
  b) a horse
  c) a bookish, but sweet prince
  d) your nursemaid

7) Do you enjoy martial arts?
  a) Yes, I am a ninja master.
  b) Yes, especially in the dark.
  c) No, but I could learn.
  d) No: hand-to-hand combat is barbaric.

8) Regarding strangers, do you:
  a) Approach suspiciously, if at all?
  b) Try to read their minds?
  c) Avoid them when possible?
  d) Befriend them immediately— what’s the harm?

Answer Key

Give yourself 3 points for every A answer, 2 points for every B answer; 1 point for every C answer, and 0 points for every D answer.

If you score 20–24 points, you have the Killing grace!  You are a brave and able fighter.  Others should watch out for you. Even though you can take care of yourself, you tend to alienate people. Killing grace celebrity: Katsa

If you score 14–19 points, you have the Fighting grace.  You are independent and courageous, but slightly more open to getting help from others.  Your best asset is your ability to reason, and others value your opinion.
Fighting grace celebrity: Prince Po

If you score 8–13 points, you have the Relationships grace.  Your strengths are related to love and relationships, rather than to bravery or physical prowess.  It’s best to let others do the fighting for you, but you’re not afraid to stick up for yourself when necessary.
Relationships grace celebrity: Princess Bitterblue

If you score fewer than 8 points, you may not actually have a grace.  But if you do, it might be the Calming grace. Or it might be the Intellect grace. Either way, you need other people to protect you, and you prefer to take the path of least resistance.  You have a calm countenance that soothes everyone around you.  You excel at puzzles, solitaire, and knitting, and you are probably very well-read. Calming grace celebrity: Nurse Helda  Intellect grace celebrity: Prince Raffin

Unless otherwise stated, this discussion guide is reprinted with the permission of Graphia. Any page references refer to a USA edition of the book, usually the trade paperback version, and may vary in other editions.