For those of you that haven't or couldn't attend book club lately, we'll be publishing the previous months' discussion questions here. I hope eventually to post discussion questions for all of the books we've covered since I took over a couple of years ago and beyond, all the way to the beginning over a decade and a half ago. It will take a while. Until then, we will be posting discussion questions on a weekly basis. Here are the questions from a 2019 title, Circe. We hope these questions spark discussions of your own.
Circe
by Madeline Miller
Summary:
In the house of Helios, god of the sun and mightiest of the Titans, a daughter is born. But Circe is a strange child--not powerful, like her father, nor viciously alluring like her mother. Turning to the world of mortals for companionship, she discovers that she does possess power--the power of witchcraft, which can transform rivals into monsters and menace the gods themselves.
Threatened, Zeus banishes her to a deserted island, where she hones her occult craft, tames wild beasts and crosses paths with many of the most famous figures in all of mythology, including the Minotaur, Daedalus and his doomed son Icarus, the murderous Medea, and, of course, wily Odysseus.
But there is danger, too, for a woman who stands alone, and Circe unwittingly draws the wrath of both men and gods, ultimately finding herself pitted against one of the most terrifying and vengeful of the Olympians. To protect what she loves most, Circe must summon all her strength and choose, once and for all, whether she belongs with the gods she is born from, or the mortals she has come to love.
With unforgettably vivid characters, mesmerizing language and page-turning suspense, Circe is a triumph of storytelling, an intoxicating epic of family rivalry, palace intrigue, love and loss, as well as a celebration of indomitable female strength in a man's world.
Discussion Questions
How much did you know about Greek mythology and The Odyssey before you read Circe? Did your knowledge enhance the reading of the story? Why or why not? How did Miller’s interpretation affect that understanding? Did you follow up your reading with any additional research? Which of the characters in Circe were you most interested in learning more about?
Circe struggles to find a place for herself as a woman in a man’s world. What parts of her experience resonate with modern day challenges that women face?
A central theme of Homer’s Odyssey is a longing for “nostos”—homecoming. In what way does that theme resonate with Circe’s story?
How does Circe’s encounter with Prometheus change her? How does it continue to affect her actions?
Throughout the novel Circe draws distinctions between gods and mortals. How does Glaucus change when he becomes a god?
Looking at the family dynamics displayed within the book, in particular those of the gods, were you at all surprised by the gods’ treatment of each other? Of their treatment of Circe or those who were friends that fell on hard times?
How would you describe the personality that Madeline Miller crafts for Circe? Why is she so roundly dismissed, bullied, and belittled by her fellow immortals? Talk about the ways in which this treatment shapes her character. Despite her ancient, mythological roots, do you relate to Circe?
In what way is Circe's desire for vengeance at odds with her inherent compassion?
How does Circe reflect on the differences between mortals and gods? In what ways are men more threatening than the gods? With whom does she feel more at ease?
There is also a lot of discussion of the callousness of gods and how mortals seem more shadow than substance, allowing for abuses of power that otherwise might not happen. Often it is seen that the only reason to do kindness to mortals is to give just enough to keep hope alive. Do you think it a reasonable view for gods to take? How does this affect your understanding of Circe?
It is also assumed by most but Circe that not admitting fault is the better action to take. Do you agree with this sentiment?
Circe wonders if parents can ever see their children clearly. She notes that so often when looking at our children “we see only the mirror of our own faults.” What parts of herself does she see when she looks at Telegonus? What are her strengths and weaknesses as a parent to him?
Circe’s sister Pasiphaë begins the novel as a major antagonist. How does our perspective of her change after Circe’s visit to Crete?
Did you find Circe to be a compassionate, empathetic character? Do you think her behavior was at all influenced by how she grew up? Do you think her actions reasonable?
Contrast Circe’s relationship with her father, Helios, and her son, Telegonus. How does she measure up as a daughter and as a mother? Does one role inform the other?
On a similar note: Talk about Circe's attitude toward motherhood: as she says, despite all her military style preparations, it was "not enough." What does she mean, and what kind of a mother does Circe end up becoming?
How does her time with Daedalus affect Circe?
Circe begins the novel feeling very close to her brother Aeëtes. Why do their paths diverge so wildly? Why do you think he make the choices he does?
Circe tells us that she recognizes parts of herself in Medea. In what ways are the two women similar? In what ways are they different?
Circe says to Telemachus “Do not try to take my regret from me.” What does she mean by that? What role does regret play in the novel?
Circe says that when she first meets Odysseus he seems “nearly familiar” to her. Why does she say that? Who, if anyone, does he remind her of?
How does the author portray the love affair between Circe and Odysseus? If you are familiar with The Odyssey, how does the novel differ from Homer's telling (or does it)?
In what ways does her relationship with Odysseus foreshadow that with Talemachus?
What is the significance of Circe’s meeting with Trygon? How does it impact her emotional journey?
There are numerous references to crafts in the novel, including weaving, carpentry and metal-working. What role does craft play in Circe’s story?
Circe is interested in Penelope from the moment she hears about her from Odysseus. What draws her to Penelope? Does this change over time? Were you surprised with Penelope’s “fate”?
Which of the women in Circe’s life have the most impact on her life and choices? Who does she identify with the most and why?
How does the ancient Greek society, at least in the realm of the deities, view and treat women?
How does Circe’s witchcraft give her strength? How does she feel about the traditional expectation of feminine fragility?
Were you surprised when Telemachus refused Athena? Why or why not?
Circe encounters several famous figures from Greek myth. Were any of their portrayals surprising?
How does Circe’s relationship with her father change over the course of the book? What do you make of their final conversation?
How does Circe change from the beginning of the book to the end? Why do you think she chooses her ultimate path?
We see numerous powerful characters abusing their positions throughout the story. Are power and abuse necessarily connected? Are there any models for power without cruelty in the novel?
How does Miller depict many of the legendary characters of Greek mythology, including Odysseus, Daedalus, Hermes, among others? In other words, how does she flesh out their "human" traits as distinct from their godlike or heroic ones?
Circe’s gift is transformation. How does she transform from the beginning of the novel to the end? Why does she ultimately choose the path she does?
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