A Monster Calls

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. In many Western cultures, talking about death is largely considered taboo. What is it about death that makes it a taboo subject? Why does society have taboos in general, and what purpose do they serve in a culture?

Teaching Suggestion: While death, illness, and mortality are at the center of A Monster Calls, the characters in the novel—particularly Conor—struggle to confront these topics head-on. This prompt will get students thinking about The Necessity of Confronting Difficult Truths, particularly those truths around The Power of Guilt and Shame. The taboo nature of death also connects to the theme of The Cyclical Nature of Isolation. After responding to the Short Answer prompt, it may be beneficial to discuss these themes and how they might manifest in the novel.

• “The Taboo of Death” from Psychology Today examines the history of the taboo surrounding death.
• This article from TIME Magazine explains why grief, despite being universal, is a deeply lonely experience.

2. Every culture around the world has unique rituals around death. Consider the various international traditions, from Mexico’s Día de Muertos to Tibetan Buddhists’ sky burials. Why do you think some funeral rituals are celebratory, while others are somber? What does this say about the culture’s attitude toward death?

Teaching Suggestion: Conor and his family deal with the subject of death in a typically Western tradition—that is, they find difficulty confronting the subject head-on and struggle to discuss death directly with one another. This prompt connects to the theme of The Difficult Necessity of Grieving and explores the wide and varied traditions around death and dying. To help students develop ideas for the Short Answer prompt, consider opening with a discussion of the different rituals surrounding death; this will allow students to access prior knowledge and may remind them of related traditions that they have not thought of or have forgotten. You might also ask students to do some preliminary research using the links below or similar resources.

• This list from Britannica explores unique funeral traditions in different cultures.
• “Death and Dying: How Different Cultures Deal with Grief and Mourning” from The Conversation discusses how different funeral traditions reveal a culture’s attitude around death and dying.

Differentiation Suggestion: A differentiation strategy would be to have students consider the nature of grief from a scientific perspective. Consider asking them to watch “How Grief Affects Your Brain and What to Do About It” from NBC News to learn more about the human biological response to grieving. This will help students understand that grieving is not simply a mental process—it has physical effects on a person’s brain and body, too.

Personal Connection Prompt

This prompt can be used for in-class discussion, exploratory free-writing, or reflection homework before reading the text.

Everyone must deal with loss at some point in their life. Reflect upon a loss that you have had to cope with and consider: How did this loss change your worldview? Did coping involve realizing new things about yourself or the world around you?

Teaching Suggestion: In A Monster Calls, Conor realizes that coming to grips with the reality of his mother’s illness means Confronting Difficult Truths about the world—that life is unfair, that things don’t always work out, and that love can lead to deep sorrow. Consider approaching this prompt with sensitivity, in case there are students actively dealing with loss. Before embarking on this prompt, you might wish to review the National Association of School Psychologists’ “Addressing Grief: Tips for Teachers and Administrators,” which offers up some general guidelines for discussing death in the classroom.

• “How Your Brain Copes with Grief, and Why it Takes Time to Heal” from NPR re-examines grieving as a form of learning.
• This article from The Conversation explores how grief can prompt existential crises that make people question their sense of meaning and purpose.

Differentiation Suggestion: Students who struggle with concepts surrounding death and those who are actively experiencing loss may not be comfortable responding to this Personal Connection Prompt. In this situation, you might wish to amend the prompt to read, “Change is an inevitable part of life, and yet many people are resistant to it. Why do you think change is difficult to accept? What advice would you give to someone who is worried about the changes they will experience in the future?”