On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness

Janner is a dynamic character. Explore who Janner is at the beginning of the story and who he is at the end. Who helps him throughout his period of growth, and how? What moments influence his development?

Peterson includes many references to Christian doctrine in his work. Find as many of these references as you can. Explore the ways in which they impact the story.

This is the first book in a series, so some questions remain unanswered when the story ends. What questions are left unanswered, and what evidence is there to support the future events of the series?

Peterson uses humorous footnotes to provide extra context throughout the book. How effective are these footnotes as a literary device? Did you enjoy them? Why or why not?

Why do you think Nia and Podo were so unwilling to talk to the children about Esben and Peet? Do you think that they made the right choice not to tell them the truth? Why or why not?

Peterson uses a lot of invented words to build the fantasy world of Aerwiar. Critique his world-building choices. What worked well? Could anything have been improved? Reference the text when writing your answer.

This book contains many instances of foreshadowing. List as many as you can. Write an essay exploring how foreshadowing enriches this text. Consider which instances of foreshadowing you noticed and which ones you missed when writing your answer.

Compare and contrast On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness with another work that tackles similar themes. Some options could include The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien, A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle, or 100 Cupboards by N. D. Wilson.