Posted in The Hedge of Thorns by John Hatchard

Here are some study questions on the first three chapters of The Hedge of Thorns.  They are not necessarily to be used in our online discussion, but I made them up for my own use with my children, so feel free to print them off and use them in your home reading and study of the book if you wish.

Food For Thought:

1. The title, The Hedge of Thorns, is both literal and figurative in this story. Has it become apparent why the author chose this title?

2. What picture did you get in your mind as you started this book? What tone did the author set?

3. How would you describe John's relationship with or his opinion of his home life and his  father and mother?

4. What is the relationship between John and Bell?

5. What did you make of John's father? What do you think of his sacrifice to attain the Bible? What does this say about the value he placed on the Word?  How does the Word of God play into and effect the way this story is written thus far?

6. John is but a child as we begin this story. Though he is still young, we must note his strengths or weaknesses. What are they? Do we know what is the source of these strengths/weaknesses? How do you relate to them in your own life?

7. Two themes of The Hedge of Thorns are temptation and choices/consequences. Are John's struggles with temptation something that you relate to? To what extent does temptation play into today's culture/society?

8. In your opinion, what determines the way a child reacts to temptation? Why was it so important for John to know what was behind the hedge? What boundaries in his own heart did he cross to find out?

9. What is the root of John's love for Bell? What do you make of him abandoning that love for the temptation he could not overcome?

10. What are your own feelings about the hedge? Did you find yourself wondering what was behind it, and if it would bring immediate danger?

11 What scenes or scenes did you find yourself picturing in your mind? Which ones did you find yourself thinking about later?

12 If you are a child reading, what would you do now if you were John? As an parent, what would you do now? What do you predict John's future will bring? What about Bell?

Blessings!

Jacque
Seeking Rest in the Ancient Paths Homeschool

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