76 pages • 2 hours read
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Explain Charles Fort’s basic theory of life and how it relates to events in Chasing Vermeer.
Calder depends on his pentominoes. Discuss what they are and the ways he uses them over the course of the story.
Petra has a way of relating to the world that’s different from Calder’s. Discuss why she’s better suited to communicate with the Lady than he is.
Perceiving the underlying pattern of random events is a key theme in the novel. Think of several examples where the children identify these patterns and how the patterns that they identify advance the plot.
Ms. Hussey declares that the letter is dead. Events in Chasing Vermeer tend to contradict her view. Give examples of the ways that correspondence factors into the story.
Calder’s grandmother says he breathes patterns the way other people breathe air. Discuss how Calder depends on patterns to understand reality.
Chasing Vermeer spends a good deal of time discussing the nature of art. Explain the book’s stance on this topic. How does the Vermeer theft tie into this theme?
Why do you think the author specifically chose Vermeer’s work to explore her concept of the meaning of art? How does Vermeer’s characteristic style play out as a motif throughout the story?
A Lady Writing is central to the plot of Chasing Vermeer. In your opinion, why was this painting chosen to illustrate the book’s themes and motifs?
While written correspondence is an important motif in Chasing Vermeer, so are the individual letters of the alphabet. Give some examples of the ways that different characters use the alphabet to convey meaning.
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