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H.A.L.F.: The Deep Beneath (H.A.L.F. #1) Discussion Questions:
DISCUSSION
QUESTIONS – H.A.L.F. The Deep Beneath by Natalie Wright
1. The
novel opens with a quote from Jeff Wells: “[H]istory
is not driven by most of us… As a rule, majorities are ruled. It’s the fanatic
few, at whom we may laugh one day and cower before the next, who are history’s
engine. It’s a minority of the
single-minded maniacs who can take a holy place and make an unholy mess.”
After reading H.A.L.F., do you think there is “a minority of single-minded maniacs” in this novel? Why or why not?
Cite examples from the text.
2. Continuing
with Wells’ quote, in our modern world can you think of any examples of “the fanatic few, at whom we may laugh one
day and cower before the next, who are history’s engine”? Who are they and
how do they affect history? Explain.
3. The
prologue chronicles Lucia’s journey from being homeless and childless to being
kept and pregnant. She is promised $250,000+ and a lifetime pension if she
delivers a live birth. Dr. Randall
assures her, “It’s a chance for a better life. What do you have to lose?” If
you were in Lucia’s situation would you take the deal? Why or why not? Explain
your reasoning.
4. Lucia
references “mother’s intuition” for the feelings she has that “the being inside
of her wasn’t human. Or at least not entirely human.” Do you believe in
intuition? Why or why not? If so, share an example of a time when you’ve
experienced intuition.
5. Chapter
one opens with Erika riding helmetless on a motorcycle. This immediately says
something about her character. What other first impressions do you have about
Erika’s character? Give examples. Do
your first impressions continue to ring true as the novel goes on? Why or why
not? Give examples from the text.
6. Ian
is the star quarterback on the football team. He is also Erika’s best friend.
Though Ian and Erika have an unlikely friendship, they seem to balance each
other and bring out the best in each other. But over the course of the novel
their friendship morphs and changes, becoming more and more contentious. Do you have a friend who brings out the best
in you? Explain how. What do you bring to your friendship(s)? Have you
had a friendship that morphed and changed? Did the friendship survive? Explain.
7. The
relationship between Jack and Erika is emotionally charged on many levels. Despite the declaration that they are “just
friends” Erika’s actions seem to be giving mixed signals. Do you feel Erika is
being fair to Jack? Why or why not? If you could give Erika romantic advice
about Jack, what would it be?
8. H.A.L.F.
stands for Human Alien Life Form made from the combination of human and alien
DNA. The character Jack has “an open mind” regarding alien life. What are your personal beliefs about aliens,
government conspiracies, and the possibility of the existence of H.A.L.F.? Explain.
Have your attitudes changed since reading this book? Why or why not? If so, how?
9. The
desert setting plays a major role in the first half of this novel. Do you think
the setting of a novel can be likened to a character? Why or why not? Can you
give an example from other novels where the setting is a character?
10. Sedona,
specifically Bell Rock, also has a big part in the novel as it is the place Tex
was to meet his cousins, “the greys”. Sedona is known for energy vortexes.
Research energy vortexes and find where else they are common. Formulate an
opinion on energy vortexes and alien life based on your research.
11. Being set in southern Arizona, the politics of
the U.S./Mexican border have a very real effect on people’s lives in the
region. H.A.L.F. touches on immigration with the inclusion of the characters,
Joe and Nacho. Does their declaration
that “border patrol looks the other way seenin’ as how we help ‘em keep the
desert clean of illegals” ring true to you? Has your life or someone you know
been touched by immigration (not necessarily at the US/Mexican border)? Explain
how?
12. We
are introduced to H.A.L.F. 9 as he emerges from the underground lab AHDNA.
Again, the desert setting plays a part in the story as we see his awakening in
the arid desert air after being dulled by the humid conditions of the lab. He
refers to an ‘incident’ in childhood that subsequently resulted in the use of
humidity to control him. “Humidity. A natural sedative for a H.A.L.F.” Do you
feel differently in different climates? How? What climate do you prefer? Why?
13. Commander
Sturgis goes on to use water as a means for torturing Tex: the dousing at Bell
Rock and submerging him in a pool within AHDNA. Tex is able to recover from
each incident, but is weaker from it. Are Stugis’ means justified since Tex is
actually “government property”? Why or why not? Explain your opinion
thoroughly.
14. The
instinctive physiological response to a threatening situation is fight or
flight. In the threatening situation with Joe and Nacho, Erika opts to fight
despite fact that the men are armed with guns.
After Joe sexually assaults her with a kiss, Erika knees him “in his
tenders” then kicks the gun out of his hand.
In the midst of the mayhem she actually searches the ground for the gun.
How would you react if you were in Erika’s situation? Would you fight, risking death, or would you
flee? Eventually Erika offers to stay
with Joe and Nacho if they let Ian and Jack leave. Would you do that? Explain
your thinking.
15. H.A.L.F. 9 has very complicated relationships
with those around him. With Dr. Randall his relationship is nurturing and full
of compassion and guidance. H.A.L.F. 9 is led to believe that Dr. Randall is
dead, but then finds him alive living in Aphthartos at the end of the novel.
Who, from your life or the world of entertainment, would you want to find out
was alive when you thought they were dead? Why?
16. H.A.L.F.
9 and Commander Sturgis’ relationship is complicated as well. Their
relationship involves a constant power struggle and/or coming of age conflict that
includes a need for approval, punishment, fear, defiance, and nurturing. She
even refers to him as “One of my children.” Do you have a complicated relationship with a
parent or other adult? How do you deal with your conflicted feelings? Explain.
17. H.A.L.F.
9 and his ‘sister’ Alecto also have a complex relationship. She has no idea of
his existence until she is sent to retrieve him from the desert. When she
learns of his existence she feels hope because she “is not alone”. Do you have
a sibling? If so, how would you feel if you had to capture your sibling against
their will? Do feel like the bond between siblings should come before any
orders from an authority figure? Why or why not? Tex and Alecto can communicate
telepathically. Have you ever had a bond with your sibling(s) whereby you could
‘read each other’s minds” on a level? Give an example.
18. H.A.L.F.
9 has an almost immediate connection to Erika and she to him. She names him Tex
and fights to keep him from returning to Sturgis. This complicates things with
Ian and Jack for different reasons. Discuss how the relationship with Erika
causes Tex to act in ways he wasn’t trained to act. Cite examples from the
text. How does her need to save Tex affect her relationship with Ian? With
Jack?
19. H.A.L.F.
9 also has a relationship with Dr. Dolan. Initially Dr. Dolan gives 9 Dr.
Randall’s instructions for his escape, but he is also responsible for much of
the H.A.L.F. experimentation. Later in the novel he plays a major role in
helping Erika, Jack, and Ian rescue Tex. Dr. Dolan ultimately loses his life to
enable their escape. Are these the actions of a man whom when referring to
himself said, “My soul, I fear, is already given to the devil.”? Do you believe
people can morally change? Cite an example from your life or another novel when
that has been true.
20. Erika
is emphatic about the value of life…all
life. The first time they meet Tex he is
telepathically strangling the desert intruder, Joe. Erika declares, “No one
deserves to die!” - even the man who just assaulted her and had plans to kidnap
her. Her constant defense of life gets her in conflict with Ian, Jack, and
especially Commander Sturgis. So much so that she almost loses her own life
multiple times. Have you ever felt so passionate about a subject or situation
that you’ve been in conflict with others because of it? Why does it have so
much meaning to you? Explain your answers thoroughly.
21. Tex
repeatedly describes himself as “a weapon” though several times in the novel he
displays (and is surprised by) his human emotions: guilt when killing a snake,
happiness when he emerged from AHDNA, attraction to Erika, curiosity about
Alecto, jealousy of Jack, etc. In fact it was noted that Dr. Randall and
Commander Sturgis “created 9 to be a killing machine, unfettered by human frailties
of the mind such as guilt and mercy.” Do you think Tex was a ‘failed’
experiment because his humanity interfered with his killing machine instincts?
Why or why not?
22. In contrast, Alecto felt comfort when
concentrating on Commander Sturgis’ orders and didn’t let the fact that Tex was
her ‘brother’ interfere with her mission. Is Alecto a more successful hybrid?
Which H.A.L.F. character do you relate to more, Tex or Alecto? Cite examples
from the novel to support your answer.
23. Physically
Tex knows he is different. He is described as having “overly large, black eyes,
tiny facial features and strangely colored greyish skin [that] would make him
stand apart”. This assessment is confirmed when he enters the diner and the
woman screams and drops the coffee. How would you react if you came in contact
with a being with Tex’s physical description? Erika’s explanation of “Spender’s
Disease” allows them to escape the situation. Do you think people with
disfiguring/physically different conditions get treated poorly in real life?
What positive things can you do the next time you see someone with a
disability? Make a plan.
24. Tex
uses his ability of ‘temporal translocation’ to switch places between the government
Hummer and Jack’s Jetta. Tex not only teleports himself, he also teleports
every person involved: Erika, Jack, Ian, Sergeant Lopez, and Alecto. The
physical sensation of the act does not sound pleasant nor without risk. This is
a technology that has been depicted in movies and television for years. Do you
think it will be possible in your lifetime? Why or why not? Would you be
willing to try this? Why or why not? Explain your reasoning.
25. The novel refers to the crash of ’47 in
Roswell, New Mexico as the source for the DNA for the hybrid project and the
revelation of the coming alien war. Conduct research on this supposed event and
draw your own conclusions as to whether the science presented in this novel is
possible. Use information from your research to substantiate your opinion.
26. Part
II of the novel begins with a quote from Jeremy Bentham: “The question is not ‘Can they reason?’ nor ‘Can they talk?’ but ‘Can
they suffer?’” After reading the novel, whom do you think is the ‘they’
that this quote is referring? Why? Explain your answer with examples from the
novel.
27. General
Bardsley tells Commander Sturgis that it has been decided that the H.A.L.F.
project would be shut down with the explanation that “the cost too high, the
benefit too low”. What were the costs of this project? Think not just in terms
of money, but in terms of humanity. What were the benefits of this project?
Sturgis mentions “broadening research on genetics”. Are there any other benefits?
Do the benefits outweigh the costs? Cite examples from the novel.
28. Aphthartos
is described as “a small 1950’s town” in the center of the AHDNA complex. A
brass plaque adorned with a symbol (depicted on the cover) is present with the
word, ‘Makers’. Why do you think the government built such a town? What do you think the pros and the cons would
be to living in a ‘city’ built several miles underground?
29. Tex
refers to his alien cousins as “the greys”. They communicate with him telepathically
giving him messages about his rescue. When it becomes apparent that Erika,
Jack, and Ian cannot escape AHDNA and Commander Stugis without ‘the greys’
help, they have to accept this fate. Given the choice between “possible death
and certain death” would you leave with the aliens? Based on the ‘the greys’
armed conflict with the soldiers do you think ‘the greys’ will harm Tex’s human
friends? Why or why not?
30. Tex’s
alien cousins ultimately come for him by infiltrating AHDNA. Do you think there
is technology in our modern world that would allow an escape like the one
described in this novel? If not, do you think humans have the capability to
develop it without extraterrestrial assistance? Why or why not? Cite examples
from NASA and other scientific sources.
31. In
the final showdown between Tex and Alecto, Tex is able to hold Alecto pinned to
the ground until his powers are interrupted by the alien ship door’s closing.
This ultimate show of strength proved that Tex, version 9 of the H.A.L.F.
species was stronger that version 10, Alecto. Do you believe this to be true?
Do you think Tex’s human emotions helped his overall strength? How? Cite
examples from the novel to support your position.
32. By
the end of the novel, after everything they have gone through, Erika decides
she loves Jack after all only to be separated from him. What do you predict
will come of their relationship? Give examples from the novel to support your
position.
33. Commander
Sturigis’ final words in the novel are: “We finish what we started. We prepare
for war.” What do you think this will look like? Sturgis does not have the
support of the Makers or General Bardsley. Do you think she will get Tex back?
How?
Emily's House Discussion Questions:
Emily’s House by Natalie Wright
Educational Materials Written and Developed by Bridget Magee, M.A.
**Click this LINK to go view and print the pages from Google Docs.
1. The novel opens with a quote from
Einstein: “The most beautiful experience
we can have is the mysterious. It is the fundamental emotion which stands at
the cradle of true art and true science.
Whosoever does not know it and can no longer wonder, no longer marvel,
is as good as dead, and his eyes are dimmed.” What sort of mysteries do you think Einstein
is referring to? What mysteries are explored in the novel? What mysteries do
you see in our modern world?
2. Some readers may identify Emily as a
reluctant hero. Do you agree with this assessment? Compare Emily at the
beginning of the novel to the Emily at the end. Did her character experience
growth and change? Using specific examples from the novel support your answer
of why or why not.
3. The author uses specific monikers for
certain characters: Muriel the Mean, Zombie Man, and Super-size. Do the names
fit what you know of these characters? What events led them to earn these
nicknames? Do these characters grow and change to the point that these
nicknames no longer fit? How? Be specific with each character.
4. As Hindergog shares the history of the
Order of Brighid and Emily’s role in it, he recounts how the High Priestess
Saorla did the unthinkable, took her own life, in order to protect the Sacred
Grove. What kind of impact does Saorla’s heroic act have on Emily’s journey?
5. Emily watched her mother die and then re-experienced
the horror repeatedly in her dreams. How did this life changing event affect
Emily? How did the death of her mother affect her father, Liam? Have you shared
a traumatic experience with another person where each of you reacted
differently? How?
6. Emily’s relationship with Madame Wong
is both nurturing and adversarial. Madame Wong takes the concept of “tough
love” to the extreme to teach Emily all she needs to know for her journey. But Madame
Wong speaks in third person and in riddles which makes the lessons even harder
for Emily to learn. Have you been in a learning situation where you’ve had to
decipher the lessons being taught because of language difficulties and/or incongruent
messages? How did you deal with it? What emotions did you feel?
7. Emily learned some amazing lessons
under Madame Wong’s tutelage: seeing with her whole self, “choosing where want
to be and be there now”, ” joy in doing”, focus, etc. She also learned of her
amazing strength and ability to jump/fly and have second sight. How did these
lessons serve Emily in her journey to defeat Dughall? What extraordinary powers
would you like to possess? What would you do with them? Why?
8. Dughall’s early life was that of
hardship and suffering yet he had hope and decency until his mother was beaten
and she begged him to end her suffering. Do you think one event in a person’s
life can fundamentally change them from good to evil? Why or why not? Do you
think revenge can undo a horrific life event? What purpose does revenge serve?
9. Both Emily and Dughall believe that
they can reunite with their “dearest ones” (their mothers) in the Netherworld.
Emily quickly finds out that that is not the case. But she does “put her boat
in the stream” of time travel to kill the perpetrator who beat Dughall’s
mother, before Dughall can. By undoing
Dughall’s mother’s beating and early death, is she changing the course Dughall’s
life in the future? Could it set him on
a course other than a quest for revenge and power? Why or why not?
10. Throughout the novel there are references to “tingly feelings”
or “chills” or “butterflies” or “goose bumps” when Emily realizes a truth. Some
call this intuition or a “sixth sense”. Do you believe in this internal
knowing? Why or why not? Have you experienced intuition? Explain.
11. Throughout the novel Emily experiences her house as many
different things: a place where her mother is in the kitchen cooking chocolate
chip pancakes, a place where she is battered by an abusive aunt, a place where
her father is there, but not there. What
is the true meaning of Emily’s House? What is Emily longing for there? Does she
receive it? What does your house mean to you?
12. Dughall teams up with a unlikely partner, a pixie named
Macha. They have a dysfunctional
relationship whereby she does his bidding with unwavering loyalty and he
manipulates her through threats of physical violence. Why do you think she stays with him? What
benefit does this relationship have for Macha? Can you think of similar
relationships in other books or media forms (television or movies) or in real life?
Give your insight. Explain.
13. Macha’s relationship with Dughall does have an effect on him
at times. What emotions does she evoke in him that takes him by surprise?
Explain.
14. Dughall is ultimately successful in his attempt to enter the
Netherworld. What do you think happened to Macha when Dughall crossed over to
the Netherworld realm? Why didn’t he bring her?
15. The Goddess Brighid explains the Netherworld as a parallel
world, existing in the same space. In your view, do parallel worlds exists? Why
or why not?
16. The novel describes Akasha as being “one with the Web of All
Things”. In the end, Emily discovers that her mother has been in the Web of All
Things the whole time and that she will be connected to her always and forever.
Do you believe there is a Web of All Things and that those who’ve died are
still connected to us? Why or why not?
17. As the old wizard Cian prepared Dughall for his deathbed and
transition to Umbra Nihili
he used burnt herbs
as incense, recited incantations, and used medicated linens to wrap the body.
Most cultures have rituals surrounding death and burials. Describe five rituals
and the cultures that use them.
18. On page 209 the author describes the items that were buried
with Dughall and Macha during their time in Umbra
Nihili. What other items would you have included? In your opinion were
there items they needed that they didn’t have? What and why?
19. The concept of time and time travel is explored throughout
the novel. If you had been in the Netherworld with no clocks, rising sun,
setting moon – no markers of time, how would you react? Would it free your
thinking or paralyze you? Why? Do you
believe time travel is possible? If you had the opportunity to time travel,
what time period would you go to and why? Give specific details.
20. If you could change
one thing about Emily’s journey what would it be? Why?
Activities Across the Curriculum
Emily's House by Natalie Wright
Materials Written and Developed by Bridget Magee, M.A.
Language Arts
· Dialogue – The dialogue between characters sets
the tone for the time period of the novel, the relationship between the
characters speaking, and the personality of each character. For example, the dialogue between Fanny and
Jake is usually a casual banter peppered with slang and put downs. The dialogue
used by Madame Wong is very different. Madame Wong speaks in 3rd
person with her message clipped and cryptic at times. Students will pick three different scenes
from the novel that include dialogue between two characters. From the dialogue
they will infer a sense of time and setting, the relationship between the
characters, and personality traits of each character themselves. Students will
write up their findings and share with the class.
· Extending Dialogue –
Students working in pairs, will give a dramatic reading of a scene between two
characters first as it is written, and then with their interpretation of how it
would continue when the students provide further conflict for the characters.
· Point of View – On
page 133 we get Emily’s POV on what it felt like to walk through the portal to
the Netherworld, but what about her friends who witnessed it? Students will rewrite the scene from both
Fanny and Jakes POV, using a “voice” similar to each character’s voice. They
will reveal both what they saw, but also what they thought and how they felt as
they watched Emily disappear into “a large hole in the ground”. Students will
share their scenes with the class.
Social Studies
· History – When
Hindergog relays the history of Brighid to prepare Emily for her journey, he
tells of the Celtic history of the Druids. Students will research ancient
Celtic Druidism and compare and contrast it with Christianity.
· Rituals - The
novel equates Samhein to All Hallow’s Eve, Alban Althuan to Christmas, and
Imolc to Easter. Students will compare and contrast these rituals.
· Modern Day Connection –
Today, in modern day Ireland St. Brigid’s Cathedral exists in County
Kildare. In Kildare the Sisters of the
Brididine Order is a Catholic Order of spiritual women who have devoted their
lives to Brighid. Students will research
this Order paying close attention to how they embrace the Goddess aspect of
Brighid with the Catholic tradition then write an essay to summarize their
findings.
Science/Math
· LHC – On pages 232-233
Liam, Emily’s dad explains the science behind the Large Hadron Collider or
LHC. Students will research the
development of this invention and the breakthrough and benefits that scientists
have discovered using it, then write a paragraph to summarize what they found
out.
· Black Hole – In the
novel, Dughall uses the LHC to enter a portal to the Netherworld and in the
process he opens up a Black Hole. Also in the novel, an engineer at CERN, Ted
Schaeffer, offers the theory of “antimatter” in a Penning trap as a way for
Emily to stop the Black Hole. Students
will research Black Holes, the concept of antimatter, and Penning traps and report
their findings in a PowerPoint presentation.
· Time - The
concept of time the Netherworld is both eternal and immediate. Using the clues
from the novel, calculate how long Emily spent in the Netherworld and how long
Jake and Fanny spent away from home.
Geography
· Monasterboice - Using
a map and the internet students will locate Monasterboice in Ireland and learn
about its history, especially in relation to the ancient crosses.
Fine Arts
· Visual Art –
Students will create a Celtic cross through the mediums of pencil and paper,
painting, or collage.
· Sculpture – Using
twisted wire students will create their own torc to be worn on their upper arm
like Emily. Each end will be capped with
a “finial” made from ceramic. Student’s
finial can be of a hawk and a woman like Emily’s torc or other figures.
Students must explain their choice of finials.
· Computer Design– Using
computer technology students will create a “portrait” of Brighid with her morphing faces but consistent
long, red flowing hair using computer animation software if available.
WRITING PROMPTS - Emily’s House by Natalie Wright
Poetic Portrait –
Students will choose a character from the novel and using poetic devices such
as simile, comparisons, and concrete descriptive language, they will create a
poetic portrait of the character. Their
poems might describe what the character looks like, the character’s strengths
and attributes, and the role the character plays in the story.
Composing a Letter –
Students will compose two letters from Emily to her mother, Bridget. One letter
will be from the Emily at the beginning of the novel and one will be from the
Emily at the end of the novel. Each will give insight to Emily’s feelings about
her mother’s death and where she is at in processing it based on the knowledge
she has at that time.
Newspaper Article –
Students will write a newspaper article about the security breach at CERN and
the resulting abuse of the LHC and subsequent Black Hole and antimatter
solution. In true journalistic form student’s articles will have just the
facts, be concise, and answer the questions: who, what, where, when, why and
how.
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