Group Talk Questions

1. Defend or refute this statement:  "Three Skeleton Key" is a good horror story.

2. To what does the narrator compare the rats onboard the Cornelius de Witt (p. 69)? Why is this comparison made? 

3. Write down all of the adjectives that describe the rats on p. 69. Draw a picture of the scene.

4. Prepare a discussion on suspense as present throughout the story.   

5. What is an allusion? On p. 73, why does the narrator call one of the rats Nero? Prepare a mini-report for the class.

6. Compose an "I Know Poem" about the story.

I Know Three Skeleton Key
[Write four sounds that you heard described]
I Know Three Skeleton Key
[Write four visual images that were described]
I Know Three Skeleton Key
[Write four odors that were described]
I Know Three Skeleton Key
[Write three key lines of dialogue that were spoken]

7. This is a story about nature gone berserk. What other stories or movies can you name that have used this same frightening idea? In your opinion, which is better?

8. Foreshadow: Live it. Breathe it. Love it. 

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Bonus One: If "Three Skeleton Key" were a color, what color would it be? Why?

Bonus Two: "When I was a lad...I found myself fearfully attracted to stories that scared me. Don't ask why--I hate being scared, but I didn't mind, as long as I knew in my hearth that I was safe." --Isaac Asimov.

Bonus Three: In your opinion, why do you think people like to be scared by a great horror story?