The Beatryce Prophecy

Analyze the roles played by the counselor and the king in the destruction of Beatryce’s family. How much responsibility does each man hold for Beatryce’s situation? If one is more responsible than the other, which one, and what makes him more to blame? What did answering this question teach you about responsibility and the influence others can have on who we are and become?

Do you agree with Beatryce and Answelica that love and stories change the world? Why or why not? If so, what about them brings lasting change? If not, what does change the world, why that, and how does it bring about change?

Explore the book’s messages about triggering events. What did you learn from how the book discusses triggers in relation to trauma? Based on how Beatryce and others react to triggers throughout the story, does how we react to trauma affect how triggers affect us? Why or why not? If so, in what way? If not, what does affect how we respond to triggering events?

What does Cannoc’s character arc say about power and freedom? Does power give us freedom? Why or why not? If so, how? If not, what about power takes away our freedom? Is it possible to have both freedom and power, and if so, what elements must be present so power does not consume us and freedom is not completely limited?

Choose two of the novel’s main characters (Beatryce, Jack, Edik, and Cannoc), and compare and contrast their arcs and emotional growth. How do the characters you chose deal with the unique troubles of their past, and what about their individual coping strategies make their growth perfect for who they are? Would their strategies work for the other character you chose? Why or why not? What does your analysis say about individual struggles, lessons, and pain?

The Chronicles of Sorrowing contain mostly negative predictions and depictions of the world. Is this because the prophecies themselves are negative or because the prophecies have largely been used for negative purposes? Discuss the relationship between cause and effect where prophecies are concerned. What makes prophecies negative—their nature or outside influence? Support your answer with evidence from the text.

Using the ideas discussed in Destiny Is a Choice, explore your opinion of destiny versus free will. Do you believe our lives are predetermined? Why or why not? If so, what makes you think this? If not, what about choice makes you sure we can change our futures? Did reading The Beatryce Prophecy change your outlook on destiny? Why or why not?

Why do you think Kate DiCamillo chose to include Answelica’s character? What role does the goat play in the novel and for Beatryce, and how does Answelica keep the story moving forward? Given that Beatryce uses Answelica’s ear as a security blanket for so much of the book, would the novel have changed if the goat was substituted by an inanimate object that Beatryce used for comfort? Why or why not? Support your answer with evidence from the text.