A Connecticut in King Arthur’s
Court (Mark Twain)
Study Questions
BEFORE READING
Read the Introduction to A
Connecticut in King Arthur’s Court.
Read the handout of Literary Terms
WEEK 1 -- Intro
& Ch. 1 – 6 (p. vii – 31)
Discussion
1.
What does Twain write in the beginning to “frame” the
story and to set it up as a believable set of circumstances?
2.
What has Twain included that could make this story less
creditable?
3.
For centuries, stories and legends about King Arthur
and Camelot have been told. What does it
tell you about Hank that he is unfamiliar with the tales and the place?
4.
What is Hank’s first impression of the King, the
Knights, and the Round Table?
5.
Give examples of verbal humor used in these chapters.
6.
Explain Hank’s perspective on the supernatural and
magic. Why do you think he tells the
people that he’s using magic to cause the eclipse?
WEEK 2 -- Ch. 7 – 13 (p. 31 – 67)
Discussion
1.
Why does Hank feel as if he was “just another Robinson
Crusoe?” (p. 33)
2.
Why does Hank choose his title, “The Boss?”
3.
How does Hank describe the people and purpose of the
nation? What American ideals lead him to
think this way?
4.
What ideas about nobility & rank does Twain
discuss?
5.
Why was Hank afraid of the Church? (see Ch.10)
6.
Describe Clarence and the role he has begun to play.
7.
How was this nation a “country of wandering liars?” (p.
51)
8.
Explain the “quest” Hank must go on.
9.
Give 3 examples of metaphors that Hank uses in his
descriptions and comments.
10. What
political and/or business ideas does Hank express?
WEEK 3 -- Ch. 14 – 19 (p. 68 – 100)
Discussion
1.
How does Hank subdue the knights attacking him?
2.
Describe Sandy.
What phrases does Hank use to describe her?
3.
Give examples of the language barrier between Hank and
Sandy.
4.
How is Hank using knights for advertising? What is his motive and purpose for doing
this?
5.
Give an example of verbal humor or an unusual metaphor.
6.
What does Hank mean when he refers to Morgan le Fay’s
“petrified training?” (p.87, 91)
7.
What is knight-errantry and why does Hank call it “a
most chuckle-headed trade?” (p. 99)
8.
What causes Sandy to be speechless?
WEEK 4 -- Ch. 20 – 23 (p. 101 – 131)
1.
Describe what Hank and Sandy find at the Ogre’s Castle.
2.
How is the meeting of Sandy and the “ladies” both sweet
and sad?
3.
Hank mentions the “power of training! Of influence! Of
education!” Why are these so important?
4.
Who does Hank meet on his way to the Valley of
Holiness? Describe them.
5.
Why does Hank go to the Valley of Holiness?
6.
How does Hank use one of the hermits for his purposes?
7.
Why does the fountain not work? How will Hank remedy the problem?
8.
If Hank is so opposed to magic and superstition, why
does he keep pretending to use his own “magical” powers?
9.
Why does Hank use such theatrical performances?
WEEK 5 – Ch. 24 – 27 (p. 132 – 158)
Discussion
1.
What new invention appears at the beginning of Chapter
24? How does it give Hank an advantage?
2.
Explain the differences between Hank’s qualifications
for soldiers and the King’s qualifications.
3.
What scheme does Hank devise to help save the kingdom
money, give nobility a place in the army, and yet guarantee qualified soldiers?
4.
Explain what the “king’s-evil” is.
5.
What were Hank’s opinions about his first newspaper?
6.
Why did the King and Hank embark on a trip in disguise?
7.
What adjustments did the King need to make? Why?
WEEK 6 -- Ch. 28 – 31 (p. 159 – 187)
Discussion
1.
How does Hank compare the cares of the kingdom with the
cares of the lowly born?
2.
What are Hank’s opinions about intellectual work and
manual labor? (Ch. 28)
3.
How does the King’s “kingliness” serve him well in the
smallpox hut?
4.
Describe the tragedy at the Manor House.
5.
What tragedy do Hank and the King prevent?
6.
What name does the King go by while staying in the
village with Marco?
WEEK 7 -- Ch. 32 – 36 (p.
188 – 219)
Discussion
1.
How does Hank express his need to be theatrical and to
attract attention to himself?
2.
In what way is he a hypocrite in his interactions with
Dowley?
3.
How does Hank manage to get all of the peasants angry
with him?
4.
Explain the irony in the King’s and Hank’s responses to
the low price they bring as slaves.
5.
Why do you think the King is not worth more as a slave?
6.
The 19th century audience enjoyed
melodramas. Define “melodrama” and
explain how this genre is reflected in Ch. 35.
7.
Why did Hank not escape earlier?
WEEK 8 -- Ch. 37 – 41 (p.
220 – 245)
Discussion
1.
Describe the sequence of events that leads the King and
Hank to prison.
2.
What kind of response was Twain looking for from his
readers when he chose to have the knights appear in armor and riding bicycles?
3.
Why does Hank have to fight Sir Sagramor?
4.
How does Hank again act as if he believes in Merlin’s
magic and yet makes fun of him?
5.
Why does Hank wait to reveal his mines and factories
until after he has subdued the knights?
6.
Give at least 5 examples of “technological” advances
that have happened since Hank has come to Camelot.
7.
Describe Hank’s & Sandy’s relationship.
WEEK 9 – Ch. 42 – Final PS
(p. 246 – 268)
Discussion
1.
What changes have been made that make the 6th
century look more like the 21st century?
2.
Why is Hank not in England when the Interdict comes?
3.
What causes the knights to fight among themselves and
to ultimately split the kingdom?
4.
Describe England’s condition when he returns.
5.
Explain the following phrase from Chapter 44: “We had conquered; in turn we were
conquered.”
6.
At the very end, which civilization does Hank want to
be in? Why?
FINAL QUESTIONS
Twain
wrote to the illustrator of this story that Hank Morgan was “a perfect ignoramus;
he is boss of a machine shop, he can build a locomotive or a Colt’s revolver,
he can put up and run a telegraph line, but he’s an ignoramus
nevertheless.” In other words, Hank was
not a person of intellect but of inventiveness and ingenuity. How is this important to the story? How would the story have been different it
Hank had been a deep thinker, a philosopher?
