Inkdeath

Inkdeath by Cornelia Funke About the book: While Elinor pines for her family trapped in Inkworld they struggle to survive in a world that is ruled by chaos and cruelty. When Mo bound mortality for Adderhead inside a book he thought it would soon be destroyed by his clever insertion of every books worst enemy: water. But the Adderhead lives, though he is deteriorating like the book that keeps him alive. Frustrated, he threatens the children of Ombra with slavery if Mo does not restore the white book. But Mo is busy acting out the epic and heroic battles of Bluejay whose identity he has claimed as his own. Resa (expecting their child) and Meggie are conflicted about staying in Inkworld with the violence and cursed rulers. Will the self-serving Orpheus stop counting his silver long enough to bring Dustfinger back to help rid the world of Adderhead? Can Fengolio ever forgive himself for creating so many fatherless children in Ombra?  Will Mo sacrifice himself so the children of Ombra may live free? Read the stunning conclusion to the Inkheart trilogy to find out! Pre-reading: Discuss the ending of Inkspell. What was resolved? What questions remain open? Who is in power? Predict what Mo and his family will do. Discussion guide: How does Elinor feel being left behind with her book? Does she still derive pleasure from their company? Eventually what does her misery convince Darius to do? How are they welcomed to Ombra? What is it like for Elinor to experience adventure rather than read about it? Why and how does Mo adopt the persona of the Bluejay? How would you feel if he was your father or husband? Should he go on such dangerous missions? Explain how Orpheus is getting by in the Inkworld. Is he clever or cruel? Why does he have so much power? Why won’t Fenoglio stop him from changing his world? Why does Farid serve him? When Mo visits the castle in Ombra he is captured by Her Ugliness. What is he surprised to learn from her? Can he escape? How? Did his curiosity nearly kill him? Mo’s family is divided on whether to abandon Inkworld for the safety of home or try to influence the outcome of the story. Which characters want what? How has this changed from the previous books? With whom do you agree? Why? Was Resa wrong to ask Fenoglio and Orpheus to write them home without their permission? “After all, that is what you wanted from books: great emotions you’d never felt yourself, pain you could leave behind by closing the book if it got too bad.” (p.109) Do you agree? What else do you want from a book? How does the Ink trilogy have it? How does the Piper threaten the children of Ombra? Does this lead to Mo’s capture or not? Describe the scene where Mo sacrifices himself for the children. Did you consider Orpheus a villain in the previous Inkheart books? Does he become one during this story? What are the qualities of a good villain? Does he have ultimate power in this story? Describe the character, Death and the realm she rules. What threat or bargain does she make with Mo? Why is she so angry with him? Explain what happens when Mo visits her kingdom. How was Dustfinger changed by his time with the White Women? What new skills and abilities did he bring back with him? Which would you most like to see or do? What actions prove his loyalty once and for all?  What motivates Her Ugliness? Where do her loyalties lie? Do her actions ever surprise you? How? Why does she move Bluejay to her family’s castle? Do you think she is capable of cruelty? How does Mortola reappear in this story? What effects does she have on the events? Is she rewarded for her treachery? What magpie magic ends up serving Resa? How? How has Meggie changed from the previous novels? Her feelings for Farid, too, change over the course of the book. Why? Do you think she will ever decide to leave Inkworld or not? Which world would you choose? Why? How does she serve the children of Ombra? Does this make her a hero as well? “A reader doesn’t really see the characters in a story; he feels them.” (p. 358) Do you agree? How do imagine the characters in the story? What feelings do each of them evoke in you? Which character is your favorite? Why?  At the castle in the lake the windows are replaced by “painted views of a world that didn’t exist” (p. 410) Do you think some people like to live this way- pretending that the world is different than what it is? Is our reliance on television and pretend families similar to the Castle in the Lake? Orpheus’s allegiance is quite malleable. Why? Do you ever change your own allegiance to those you think will win? What is the danger of these shifts? Is Orpheus a good villain? Do villains always believe they are more clever than everyone else? Fenoglio struggles with writer’s block and guilt for the way Inkspell ended. What do you do when you feel like you have nothing to write? In the end, how does he find his voice again? He admits that he is a vain old man. Is he justified in his vanity or not? Describe the events at the human nests. How do they come to find them? What dangers still lurk despite their location? Who do they call upon to aide them in the battle against the Milksop’s men? How is this not exactly what they expected?  Explain the series of events that unfold at the Castle in the Lake by creating a timeline of events from the time Mo, Dustfinger and Her Ugliness arrive there. In the end what becomes of Meggie and her family? Are all the villains disposed of or not? Do the heroes get the outcome they deserve? What happens to Mo’s family? Projects: Language Arts: Review the quotes at the beginning of each chapter. Which one most makes you want to read the book? Why? Write a scene that is five years after the close of the novel. Reveal what has happened to your favorite character and their worst enemy in the style of Cornelia Funke. Writing: Write a letter from Meggie to her little brother about the differences between Inkworld and home. Reading: Understanding the relationship between cause and effect can help a reader understand the connections between character motivations and events. Create a chart that traces the causes and effects of the major events in the story. Drama: With a partner or small group write a reader’s theater script for your favorite scene in the book. Perform it for your class. Science: Mold destroys the entire library at the Castle on the Lake. Research the properties of mold and its effects on property and people’s health. Art: Produce a commercial or book trailer for the whole Inkheart trilogy. Entice readers into the story with your understanding of the series without giving away anything! Share with your class or upload to the internet. -or- Design the costumes for five of the characters in the novel. Think about the color, texture, and style of each design (you may want to explore swatches in a fabric store, which are usually free if you ask). Make notes on any extraordinary make-up that would be necessary for your costume to convince an audience as well. Trilogy discussion: How does Meggie change over the course of the trilogy? Do you see her as the heroine of all three tales? What place in Inkworld would you most like to visit? Which fantastical creature would you most like to see? If you had Mo and Meggie’s gift what book would you read aloud and visit for yourself? Would you be able to resist the temptation and not visit another world? Which of the three novels is your favorite? Why? Have you read any other novels by Cornelia Funke? How do they compare to this trilogy? By studying Funke’s writing what can you learn and apply to your own next writing piece? How would you summarize the trilogy in a few sentences to a friend who was interested in learning more? Which villain in the series do you think is the most frightening: Capricorn, Mortola, the Adderhead, Orpheus, the Piper. Why? Which scene in the trilogy are you most likely to reread? Why? In the end did Funke leave any room for an additional title or not? How did you feel about the conclusion to the trilogy? This guide was created by Tracie Vaughn Zimmer, a reading specialist and award-winning children’s author. Visit her website to find hundreds of guides to children’s literature. Books Mentioned in Inkheart           1001 Arabian Nights (Oxford Story Collections), retold by Geraldine McCaughrean. Oxford, 2000. These stories told by the wily Shaharazad to save her life are full of adventure, treasure, magic, and heroism. Barrie, Sir James Matthew.  Peter Pan. (Scholastic Classics)  Scholastic, 2002. Peter Pan, aided by his companion Tinker Bell, is the leader of the Lost Boys in Neverland who battle the wicked Captain Hook and his pirates. Ende, Michael.  The Neverending Story. Puffin, 1996 Bastian Balthazar Bux enters the enchanted world of Fantastica through the pages of an ancient and mysterious book to rescue the fairy people who live there. Goldman, William. The Princess Bride.  Ballantine, 1990. A story of love, hatred, giants, dwarves, courage, cowardice, revenge, escape, truth, lies, fantastical beasts, and a satisfying end. Silverstein, Shel. Where the Sidewalk Ends: Poems and Drawings.  HarperCollins, 1974. Silverstein’s poems about everything from unicorns to television sets are characterized by sly humor and insight that have delighted countless readers. Stevenson, Robert Louis.  Treasure Island (Scholastic Classics)  Scholastic, 2001. This classic tale of Jim Hawkins’ adventures on the high seas with the villainous Long John Silver has been a favorite of many generations. White, T. H.  The Sword in the Stone, illus by Dennis Nolan. Philomel, 1993. Merlin oversees the education of the Wart, who will grow up to become Arthur, the Once and Future King of Britain. Related Reading Crossley-Holland, Kevin.  The Seeing Stone.  Scholastic, 2001. A boy named Arthur, living in 13th century England, watches a story unfolding in a magic stone – the story of the birth and growth of his namesake, the great legendary King of Britain.  His story continues in At the Crossing Places (Scholastic, 2002). Mahy, Margaret.  The Great Piratical Rumbustification & the Librarian and the Robbers.     David R. Godine, 2001. Imagine having a gang of pirates as your babysitters or a librarian who can charm bloodthirsty bandits by reading aloud to them. Sanvoisin, Eric.  The Ink Drinker.  Delacorte, 1998 A boy watches a weird man in his father’s bookstore silently sipping the words out of the books; following him to a nearby graveyard, he discovers that the ghoulish stranger is a vampire who lives on ink rather than blood.                                             Townley, Roderick.   The Great Good Thing.  Atheneum, 2001. 12 year old Princess Sylvie breaks out of the book in which she is a character and into the dreams of her Reader, leading other characters to a new existence where they have to make up their own story, and remind the girl who loves them of the importance of their story.

Inkspell

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Inkspell by Cornelia Funke About the Trilogy: Cornelia Funke weaves an epic adventure of a family with an extraordinary gift. Meggie has inherited her father’s ability to bring a book to life by reading it aloud. Unfortunately this also means being transported into a world of evil kings, greedy villains, and voracious monsters.  While Mo and Meggie try to figure out a way to save Resa, Meggie’s mother, from the world where she has been enslaved they become entrenched in the lives of the people of Ombra. In the following sequels Mo, Meggie and Resa try to unseat the unjust and cruel kings who enslave children and punish innocents for their pleasure. A vibrant cast of characters and beings—blue fairies, glass men, and giants, to name a few, have sprung to life out of Fenoglio’s, the author of Inkhearts’, imagination to help the heroes along their way.  Slip into the magical world of Inkheart and lose yourself in one of the most imaginative worlds children’s literature has ever known.   About the Author About the author: Cornelia Funke was born in Dorsten, Germany in 1958. She graduated from the University of Hamburg with a degree in educational theory. After studying illustration at the Hamburg State College of Design, she worked as a designer of board games and as an illustrator of children’s books, which inspired her to become an author herself. Her own illustrations grace the pages of The Thief Lord, Inkheart, and many of her other books. Funke has written over forty books, including the highly acclaimed Dragonrider and Wild Chicks series, and her books have been translated and sold worldwide. The Thief Lord has won the Swiss Youth Literature Award, the Zurich Children’s Book Award, and the Book Award from the Venice House of Literature. After its American release it received the ALA Mildred L. Batchelder Award for the best translated children’s book of the year, the American Booksellers Association Book Sense Book of the Year Award for Children’s Literature and several other accolates. Funke’s success in America has been matched internationally, demonstrating the universal appeal—and power—of her storytelling. Cornelia Funke lives in Los Angeles, California with her family.   Other Books by Cornelia Funke The Thief Lord.  Scholastic, 2002 A bumbling detective, a mysterious boy who calls himself the Thief Lord, an adventurous woman, a greedy antique dealer, and a gang of orphans living in an abandoned theater in Venice all find themselves embroiled in the search for a magical merry-go-round.   About the book: A year has passed, but not a day goes by without Meggie thinking of Inkheart, the book whose characters came to life. For the fire-eater Dustfinger, the need to return to the tale has become desperate. When he finds a crooked storyteller to read him back he abandons his apprentice Farid and plunges into the pages. Before long, Farid and Meggie are caught inside the book too. But the story is much changed—and threatening to end tragically.  Pre-reading: List the most important events from Inkheart and review the characters on the pages before the opening of chapter one. Predict which characters will change the most in the pages of Inkspell. Discussion Guide: Despite the reminders of the cruelty of Inkworld, Meggie feels compelled to go and see the wonders of it for herself. What does this tell us about her? Do you think she is being selfish or brave? Would you want to go with her or not? Dustfinger is happier than he was in the whole first book. Why? Have you ever returned after a long absence? What’s the best part of coming home? How is he received by those he loves? How does Dustfinger prove that he’s changed from his betrayal? What happened in Dustfinger’s world in his absence? Can you imagine missing ten years of your own life? Would you be as willing to forgive as Roxane? Describe Farid. What skills does he develop? How does he become a hero? Is he rewarded or punished for his devotion to Dustfinger? What mistakes does Fenoglio make? Who pays the price for his errors and miscalculations? Is he as important as he thinks he is? In the end, what does he vow? How does he lose control over his own story? Resa chooses to stay with Mo despite her opportunity to escape into her daughter’s arms. Do you agree with her choice or not? Is she loyal to a fault? How has her previous imprisonment changed her? How does Mortola try to exact revenge for her son’s, Carpricorn, death? How does Adderhead foil her plans? Does Basta serve Mortola? How are his attacks thwarted? Why is Inkworld so enchanting to those who read about it? What would you most like to see from Fengolio’s imagination? Are there any books that would tempt you to enter their world? Inkworld is full of fanciful characters, heroes and minor characters. Who would you most like to meet in person? Which would you least like to know? Why? How do authors make chracters seem real? Which character from Inkworld is most real to you? Describe the Castle of Night, Mount Adder and the surrounding landscape. Why do you think Funke decided to have the climax take place in this setting? How does Dustfinger try to cheat his fate? Does it work? Identity is a theme that is explored in this novel. How is Cosimo’s replacement different than expected? How is Mo’s identity merged with that of Bluejay? Does he become like him in any way? In the end, do you think Meggie and her family should travel back to Ombra or try to get home to Elinor’s house? Why? How do Meggie, Dustfinger, Farid, Mo and Resa end up back in Inkworld? Who would you willingly follow there? Blame is explored through several avenues in the book. Dustfinger blames Fengolio for his troubles, Roxane blames Farid for what happened to Dustfinger, Meggie feels responsible for what happened to Mo. Who deserves the blame? When is blame worthless? What is Fengolio’s plan to get his story back under control? How does Meggie become a part of it? Do you think writers ever have the sensation that they’re losing control of their stories as they write them? Have you ever felt this as you’ve created something? “Words were useless. At times they might sound wonderful, but they let you down the moment you really needed them.” (p. 264) Have you ever felt this way before? How did words both save and betray characters in the story? How are words quite powerful in this story and in your own life story? Why is Mo commissioned to create a blank book? What powers does it have? How is it proven to be true? What has Mo done to insure that its owner shall not keep his awful power? Has he risked too much to save himself? Adderhead is manipulated by debilitating fear of what? What are you most afraid of? Which characters are able to act despite their fear? Is this bravery? Which character do you think changes the most over the course of the novel? How do they change? Projects: Language arts: Create a chart of characters and detail the following information: a description in your own words, their motivation (or what they want), the obstacles and challenges they face, and the outcome (or in the end…) Reading: Good readers stay involved in a story by constantly making predictions based on their knowledge of the characters, the previous events in the story, their understanding of the genre (or how stories work), and any clues the author has dropped for the reader to find. So, as a great reader at the end of each chapter write a prediction about what you think will happen next to that character. List any clues given that make you believe this. -or- Read one of the books mentioned in the story or quoted at the beginning of a chapter. What do you think Cornelia Funke learned about writing by reading this story? What have you, as a writer, learned that you can apply to your next piece? Writing: Review the quotes at the beginning of each chapter. Which one is your favorite? Why? Find five quotes from your own favorite stories or authors. Write a short narrative inspired by the quote. Science: Study the nature of fire. What are its properties? How is it controlled or stopped? Are there any positive results from its appearance in a landscape? Art: Draw, sculpt, paint or otherwise depict your favorite scene from the novel. In a brief artist’s statement describe why you chose this particular scene and the materials in your piece. Debate: Reread page 250 concerning written verses oral language and debate the issue. Which do you think is most powerful? Do you agree with Balbulus, “Only the written word is eternal” or are you more convinced by Fenoglio on oral storytelling that, “A story wearing another dress every time you hear it—what could be better?”

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Inkheart

Tracie Vaughn Zimmer Children's Author & Literacy Specialist Biography   |   Books by Tracie   |    Blog   |    Poetry House   |   School Visits  | Teacher Guides   |   Home

Inkheart by Cornelia Funke   About the Trilogy: Cornelia Funke weaves an epic adventure of a family with an extraordinary gift. Meggie has inherited her father’s ability to bring a book to life by reading it aloud. Unfortunately this also means being transported into a world of evil kings, greedy villains, and voracious monsters.  While Mo and Meggie try to figure out a way to save Resa, Meggie’s mother, from the world where she has been enslaved they become entrenched in the lives of the people of Ombra. In the following sequels Mo, Meggie and Resa try to unseat the unjust and cruel kings who enslave children and punish innocents for their pleasure. A vibrant cast of characters and beings—blue fairies, glass men, and giants, to name a few, have sprung to life out of Fenoglio’s, the author of Inkhearts’, imagination to help the heroes along their way.  Slip into the magical world of Inkheart and lose yourself in one of the most imaginative worlds children’s literature has ever known.   About the Author About the author: Cornelia Funke was born in Dorsten, Germany in 1958. She graduated from the University of Hamburg with a degree in educational theory. After studying illustration at the Hamburg State College of Design, she worked as a designer of board games and as an illustrator of children’s books, which inspired her to become an author herself. Her own illustrations grace the pages of The Thief Lord, Inkheart, and many of her other books. Funke has written over forty books, including the highly acclaimed Dragonrider and Wild Chicks series, and her books have been translated and sold worldwide. The Thief Lord has won the Swiss Youth Literature Award, the Zurich Children’s Book Award, and the Book Award from the Venice House of Literature. After its American release it received the ALA Mildred L. Batchelder Award for the best translated children’s book of the year, the American Booksellers Association Book Sense Book of the Year Award for Children’s Literature and several other accolates. Funke’s success in America has been matched internationally, demonstrating the universal appeal—and power—of her storytelling. Cornelia Funke lives in Los Angeles, California with her family.   Other Books by Cornelia Funke The Thief Lord.  Scholastic, 2002 A bumbling detective, a mysterious boy who calls himself the Thief Lord, an adventurous woman, a greedy antique dealer, and a gang of orphans living in an abandoned theater in Venice all find themselves embroiled in the search for a magical merry-go-round.     Inkheart   About the Book Mortimer is a bookbinder and has passed on his great love of books to his daughter Meggie, but he has never read aloud to her. When a stranger named Dustfinger appears at their home, Meggie’s world turns upside down. She soon learns some startling truths – about her mother’s disappearance nine years earlier, and the mysterious book called Inkheart that her father tries desperately to hide at the book-filled home of Elinor, Meggie’s great aunt.  She learns that the reason Mo has never read aloud to her is because he has a secret, mysterious, dangerous gift – when he reads aloud, objects and charaters come out of the books – a skill he discovered when Capricorn, the dark villain of Inkheart, came into the world when Meggie was three. Teresa, Meggie’s mother, disappeared at the same time, presumably into the story. Capricorn uses Dustfinger, who is another character from the story, to lure Mo and Meggie to his hideout village; there Meggie sees a demonstration of her father’s reading skill when he brings gold treasure out ofTreasure Island and a young Arab boy out of the Arabian Nights. When Dustfinger learns Capricorn’s true plans, he helps Mo, Meggie, and Elinor escape over the hills. Mo searches out Fenoglio, the author of the book, and together they devise a plan to foil Capricorn’s terrible schemes. But Meggie is recaptured along with Fenoglio, and Capricorn discovers that she, too, has the same magical gift.  In a rousing finish, Fenoglio and Meggie find a way to foil Capricorn’s plans – with surprising results.   Discussion Points Character 1.  Why does Mo keep his ability a secret from Meggie? Why has he never told her the truth about her mother? 2.  Why doesn’t Dustfinger read the ending of the story when he has the chance in Meggie’s bedroom? What stops him? 3.  Does Elinor like books more than people? Has she truly been happy living alone with all her books? How does Elinor change in the course of the story, and what causes her to change? 4.  In what ways does Basta’s superstitious nature affect him and others in the story? Why is Basta so superstitious? 5.  Why does Farid follow Dustfinger? Why does Dustfinger keep trying to get away from Farid? What does Dustfinger mean when he says he has often just been a spectator? 6.  When Meggie and Fenoglio are taken to Capricorn, why isn’t Fenoglio afraid? What do you think it would feel like for an author to see his characters in real life? Does Fenoglio ever fear the characters from the book as much as the others do? 7.  When does Meggie first realize that her mother is alive and no longer trapped in the story? What do you think it was like for Teresa to be trapped in the book? 8.  Fenoglio says he was very proud of writing about the Shadow when he wrote Inkheart, so he knows the passage by heart. How does he feel about the Shadow coming to life? Does he really believe he can change the story’s ending? 9.  Why do Basta and the Magpie remain when the other characters disappear? 10.  Why did Fenoglio disappear at the end? Did he go into the book? If so, do you think he planned this? Was it his curiosity about the world of his creation, or was it an accident? Setting 1.  Why does Meggie feel more at home in Mo’s van than in their house? 2.  What do we learn of Elinor’s character from the description of her home? 3.  In how many ways did Capricorn make the village where he lives his own? How was it possible for him to create such a hideout in the “real world”? 4.  Why did so many of the characters decide to stay in Capricorn’s village at the end? Theme 1.  How many secrets can you identify in the story? How does keeping a secret affect a character’s life and interaction with others? What does Meggie mean when she says, “Why do grownups think it’s easier for children to bear secrets than to bear the truth?” 2.  The theme of truth and lies occurs throughout the story. Find examples of times when one character lies to another. Are there times when it is better not to know the truth? When are lies used for good reasons and when are lies used to hurt people? What is the difference between a lie and a secret? 3.  Fire represents many things to many people in this story. What is the meaning of fire to Dustfinger? Basta? Capricorn? Mo? Farid? Elinor? 4.  Fear is a strong motivating force in this story. Who is motivated by fear? Which characters use fear to control others? Discuss ways in which certain characters control and overcome their fears. 5.  What is the author saying about the power of imagination in this tale? How does Mo bring imaginative things to life? Why can’t he control the people that come to life through his reading? What is the difference between reality and imagination? 6.  Mo tells Meggie that “Most people don’t stop to think of books being written by people much like themselves. They think that writers are all dead long ago. . .” Do you think this is true? Is Mo more connected to Fenoglio’s story than the author himself? Are you aware of the author when you are reading a book? Discussion guide written by Connie Rockman, children’s literature consultant and adjunct professor of literature for children and young adults at the University of Bridgeport and Sacred Heart University, and editor of The Eighth Book of Junior Authors and Illustrators (H. W. Wilson, 2000). ________________________________________________________________________ To order Inkheart (0-439-53164-0, $19.95) by Cornelia Funke, contact your local bookstore or usual supplier.  Teachers and librarians may call toll-free 1-800-SCHOLASTIC.  Prices and availability subject to change. Also available by Cornelia Funke:  The Thief Lord (Hardcover, 0-439-40437-1, $16.95;  Paperback, 0-439-42089-X, $6.99). Inkheart and The Thief Lord are both available as audiobooks from Listening Library, a division of Random House Audio.

Email Tracie?  TVZIMMER (at) MAC (dot) com