Journey To The Center Of The Earth

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. How do you think you would react to being trapped deep underground in the dark with very little food and water?

Teaching Suggestion: Prompt students to imagine how being in an underground environment would affect all their senses—e.g., seeing mostly shadows or seeing nothing at all, hearing distant unidentifiable sounds and echoes, the texture and temperature of rocky surfaces, the smell of stagnant air, the taste of contaminated water, etc.

• “Book Review: ‘Deep Down Dark,’ by Héctor Tobar” from the Washington Post describes a book that chronicles the story of 33 Chilean miners trapped underground for 69 days; the review mentions the effect of darkness and hunger on the miners.

2. What goal or purpose might make it worthwhile to plunge into the unknown?

Teaching Suggestion: It may be beneficial to begin with a discussion of leaps of faith or willful ignorance of risk. What role does such a mindset play in an adventure story? Is there a place for it in the real world? You might encourage students to offer examples from books, films, and their own experiences.

• “We’ll Take This Leap and We’ll See” is a 2-minute YouTube clip of a scene from the movie Joe Versus the Volcano in which the protagonists jump into an active volcano believing that somehow they will survive.
• “Indiana Jones – Leap of Faith” is another brief clip of a scene from the movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade in which Indy steps into what appears to be a deep, rocky chasm but finds himself on a bridge that he was unable to see.

Short Activity

Stand on one leg with both eyes open. Then shut both eyes and assess the difference. Do this exercise three times; then immediately free-write a paragraph about how it made you feel physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Teaching Suggestion: If any students in your class are unable to stand, or to balance on one leg, consider alternatives that would create the same sense of momentary disorientation, such as walking or moving a short distance or trying to write a sentence on paper with eyes closed. Students with vision impairments might try a task typical for them made more challenging, like tying a knot behind their back. You might invite students to share their reflection with the class; students might also benefit from a discussion on possible ways to adjust to unfamiliar circumstances instead of succumbing to panic or despair.

• “Soccer Team Rescued from Thailand Cave Could Face Temporary Vision Struggles” is an article from the American Optometric Association that focuses on effects of prolonged darkness on vision and balance.

Personal Connection Prompt

This prompt can be used for in-class discussion, exploratory free-writing, or reflection homework before reading the novel.

Think about the deepest you’ve ever gone underground. How did you feel about it at the time? How do you feel about it in retrospect?

Teaching Suggestion: Invite students to brainstorm ways of “going deep” before they reflect on their personal experiences. What are some examples of going underground or underwater? Students might think about basements, subways, tunnels, caves, mines, and submarines.

• “This Is What It’s Like to Ride North Korea’s Marble-Clad Subway”—This BusinessInsider article provides a detailed description, including photos, of the experience of traveling on the deepest subway system in the world.

Differentiation Suggestion: For advanced students or classes that would benefit from reviewing or learning metaphorical literary devices, consider an alternative way of “going deep” by exploring mindfulness. Students might discuss or write about the similarities and differences between exploring the outer world and turning inward.

• “With Mindfulness, Life’s in the Moment”—This article in the Harvard Gazette focuses on scientifically supported health benefits of mindfulness and meditation.