Part One--Dragonfly in Amber
"Through a Looking Glass, Darkly"
PB...pages 1-86 / HC...pages 1-67
Chapter One:
1. First impressions of Dragonfly in Amber compared with Outlander?
2. First impressions of Roger Wakefield?
3. First impressions of Brianna Randall?
4. How does beginning the search affect Claire?
"...I began to first steps back, crossing the empty dark to where they waited." - Claire
Chapter Two:
5. How did you feel about the description of Broch Tuarach in ruins?
6. What did you think of Fiona Graham (compared to her grandmother)?
7. Why do you think we are getting most of this info so far through Roger's eyes and not Claire's?
Chapter Three:
8. Why couldn't Claire take her daughter to see Culloden?
"I dropped peacefully into sleep, to dream of kilted Highland men, and the sound of soft-spoken
Scots, burring round a fire like the sound of bees in the heather." - Claire
Chapter Four:
9. We know Roger is attracted to Bree, but do you think she is attracted to him at this point?
10. At the end of the chapter, what did you think Claire's nightmare was about? ("...Not that I
remembered much about it, but I had a vague impression of hands that gripped me, rough and
urgent, not wooing but compelling. And a voice, nearly shouting, that echoed in the chambers of
my inner ear, along with the sound of my fading heartbeat." - Claire)
11. Whose voice does she hear? ("You are mine...Mine! And I will not let you go.")
Chapter Five:
12. What did you think of Roger and Bree's first kiss?
13. How did you feel when Claire found Jamie's gravestone at St. Kilda's?
14. First impressions of Claire's confession?
Part Two--Dragonfly in Amber
" The Pretenders"
PB...pages 89-194 / HC...pages 71-164
Chapter Six:
1. What are your impressions of Claire and Jamie (now)?
"Oh, Claire, ye do break my heart wi' loving you." - Jamie
2. Was it difficult to imagine Jamie as an attendant to royalty (Charles Stuart)?
3. What did you think of the scene where Jamie returns to the inn completely drunk?
4. First impressions of Jared Munro Fraser?
5. First impressions of Monsieur le Comte (St. Germain)?
Chapter Seven:
6. Do you think Jamie and Claire seem natural in Paris Society?
7. Impressions of the King's lever?
Chapter Eight:
8. What did you think of Claire's finding out about Mary Hawkins (whose fate she too knows)?
9. At this point, does it seem possible for Claire and Jamie to change the future?
10. First impressions of Master Raymond?
Chapter Nine:
11. What did you think of Jamie freaking out at Claire's wardrobe choice for the Versailles ball?
12. Impressions of Jamie and Claire among the excess of Versailles?
Chapter Ten:
13. Why do you think Claire dreamt of Frank teaching a history lesson about her and Jamie?
Part Two -- Dragonfly in Amber
The Pretenders Chapters 11-17
Chapter 11 - Useful Occupations
1. What did you think of the king's singing-master (Herr Johannes Gerstmann)?
2. First impressions of Louise de la Tour de Rohan (and her house and party)?
3. How did you like the story of Jamie's first duel?
"The most important thing I've learned about women, Sassenach, is which one to choose." -
Jamie to Claire
4. How did you feel about Claire's decision to work at L'Hopital des Anges?
5. Claire and Jamie begin debating baby names. What do you think would have been a good
baby name?
6. What did you think of Jamie's reaction to Claire's hair removal efforts?
Chapter 12 - L'Hopital des Anges
7. First impressions of Mother Hildegarde and the hospital?
8. First impressions of young Fergus?
9. What did you think of Jamie and the sausage-whacking incident?
Chapter 13 - Deceptions
10. Do you think that Claire could have gone through with helping Louise abort her baby?
Chapter 14 - Meditations on the Flesh
11. What did you think of Mary Hawkins' impressions of Frenchmen and what she thought they
did (and Claire's reality check with the girl)?
12. What are your impressions of how Jamie's relationship with Fergus has developed?
Chapter 15 - In Which Music Plays A Part
13. What important things does Mother Hildegarde help Jamie and Claire discover?
Chapter 16 - The Nature of Sulfur
14. Why do you think Claire was poisoned at Versaille?
15. How did you feel about Master Raymond's involvement in the poisoning?
Chapter 17 - Posession
16. What did you think of Jamie's explanation when he comes home looking like he's been in a
fight and in possession of an odd ring?
17. Why do you think Claire did not tell Jamie right away when she first felt the baby move?
Part Three -- Dragonfly in Amber
"Malchance"
Chapters 18-21
pp.253-310 HC
Chapter 18 - Rape in Paris
1. What are your impressions of the rape scene?
2. How did you think that the rapists recognized Claire as La Dame Blanche?
3. Do you think it was the right thing to go on with the dinner party after the earlier events took
place?
4. Your impressions of the interactions of the guests at the dinner party?
5. Were you surprised that Mary Hawkins freaked out and interrupted the dinner party?
Chapter 19 - An Oath Is Sworn
6. How has Fergus grown into his role in Jamie and Claire's family?
7. How did you feel about learning Fergus' birthplace?
8. Why did you think Claire was unable to react to Murtagh's swearing vengeance for the attack
that he was unable to prevent?
Chapter 20 - La Dame Blanche
9. How did you feel about Jamie starting the story about La Dame Blanche?
10. What did you think of Master Raymond's explanation of La Dame Blanche?
Chapter 21 - Untimely Resurrection
11. What was your reaction to the reappearance of Black Jack Randall?
12. Who do you think was more surprised to see each other - Black Jack or Jamie?
13. Were you surprised to see Dougal pop up as well?
14. What was your reaction to Jamie's hair laying around their quarters (after the haircut)?
15. Was Claire doing the right thing in trying to prevent the duel? Was she asking too much of
Jamie to wait a year before exacting his revenge?
Part Four--Dragonfly in Amber
"Scandale"
Chapters 22-29
pp.313-416 HC
Ch. 22 "The Royal Stud"
1. Was a fair promise made to spare Randall for a year in exchange for Claire returning to the
future should the need arise?
2. Should they trust Sandringham's offer of pardon for Jamie's outlaw status?
3. What did you think of the scene with Monsieur Forez's salve?
Ch. 23 "The Best-laid Plans of Mice and Men..."
4. What was the point of Monsieur Forez's conversation with Jamie and Claire (regarding
execution)?
Ch. 24 "The Bois de Bologne"
5. When Claire overheard the Princesse de Rohan and Marie d'Arbanville talking about the duel,
why didn't she try to find Jamie right away?
6. What was your reaction to the duel and what happened to Claire?
Ch. 25 "Raymond the Heretic"
7. How could you justify Jamie not being with Claire after the miscarriage?
8. How do you explain Raymond the Heretic's action in the hospital?
Ch. 26 "Fontainebleau"
9. Did it seem odd for Claire to be at Fontainebleau instead of near Jamie?
Ch. 27 "An Audience with His Majesty"
10. What did you think of Claire's "escape" from Fontainebleau?
11. Why did Mother Hildegarde decide to help Claire attain an audience with the king?
12. Why was the witchcraft trial going on in the king's chamber?
13. Why did Master Raymond poison le Comte?
Ch. 28 "The Coming of the Light"
14. How did you feel when learning what happened to Fergus in the brothel three months
earlier?
15. What was your reaction to Claire and Jamie's reunion?
Ch. 29 "To Grasp the Nettle"
16. Do you feel (by the end of this section) that Jamie and Claire have resolved their difference
to a point of mutual understanding?
Part Five--Dragonfly in Amber
"I Am Come Home"
Chapters 30-35
pp. 419-474
Ch. 30 "Lallybroch"
1. How did you feel when Jamie and Claire returned to Lallybroch?
Ch. 31 "Mail Call"
2. Among the packages received at Lallybroch are some (presumably from Master Raymond)
that include small shaped stones with carving on one side. Any purpose to this?
(Note: Claire says she sometimes carries these stones in her pocket. Could these be in her pocket
when she passes through the stones a second time? Like a "ticket back"?)
Ch. 32 "Field of Dreams"
3. What did you think of the potato-harvesting scene?
Ch. 33 "Thy Brother's Keeper"
4. Why can't Rabbie and Fergus get along?
5. Why did Jamie and Ian get into a fight?
Ch. 34 "The Postman Always Rings Twice"
6. How did you feel when the letter came with Jamie's name already signed to it, pledged to
Charles Stuart?
Ch. 35 "Moonlight"
7. Was it right for Jenny to ask Jamie to take Ian to fight with him?
8. What did you think of the scene with Jamie and baby Katherine?
********
9. Overall, what did you think of this part? Did you find yourself wishing that Jamie and Claire
could stay at Lallybroch forever?
Part Five--Dragonfly in Amber
"The Flames of Rebellion"
Chapters 36 and 37
pp. 477-557 HC
Q1: WHAT DID YOU THINK OF MURTAUGH'S REMEDY FOR LICE?
Q2: WAS JAMIE TOO SEVERE IN DEALING WITH THE BOY IN THE
WOODS (ESPECIALLY IN HOW HE USED CLAIRE)?
Q3: WHAT DID YOU THINK OF JENNY CAMERON?
Q4: WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION TO 10 YEAR OLD FERGUS KILLING
AN ENGLISH SOLDIER?
Q5: WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THE SCENE WHERE JAMIE GAVE
CLAIRE A URINE SPECIMEN?
Q6: WHAT WAS YOUR IMPRESSION OF JAMIE'S RECOUND OF
THE BATTLE?
Q7: HOW DID YOU FEEL ABOUT CLAIRE'S CONFRONTATION WITH
COLUM?
Q8: HOW DOES COLUM'S DEATH AFFECT THINGS?
Ch. 38 - "A Bargain with the Devil"
pp. 558-573 HC
1. What was your reaction to the scene where Claire "rescued" a sick Jamie from Bonnie Prince Charlie's court?
2. How did you feel about Claire's arrangement with Black Jack Randall? Was she right to do what she did?
Ch. 39 "Family Ties"
pp. 574-580 HC
3. Should Claire have told Jamie who her source was?
4. How did you feel when Charlie insisted Jamie go get the men of Clan Fraser and lead them into the rebellion?
Ch. 40 "The Fox's Lair"
pp. 581-601 HC
5. Did Jamie do the right thing in having the men of Lallybroch desert?
6. What was your impression of Young Simon and the Old Fox?
7. How did you feel about the Old Fox's treatment of and speech about Claire?
Ch. 41 "The Seer's Curse"
pp. 602-614 HC
8. What was your reaction to Maisri the seer?
9. How did you like the scene where the Old Fox was treated for his prostatitis?
10. How did you feel when Claire and Jamie returned to Lallybroch only to find the men have not arrived?
Ch. 42 "Reunions"
pp. 615-637 HC
11. Were you surprised to find the ten thousand pound connection to Geillis at this point in the story?
12. How did you feel when Claire pawned her necklace to get supplies for the men in the Tolbooth?
13. What did you think of Claire leading the men to Stirling?
Chapters 43-46
pp. 626-701 HC
1. What were your impressions to the events leading up to the Falkirk battle?
2. Discuss your reaction to the scene where the retreating men enter Claire's sanctuary in the church.
3. How did you feel when Jamie and Claire were reunited in the church?
4. Was Dougal right to hasten Rupert's demise?
5. How did you feel when Claire was allowed to be taken into the enemy's hands?
6. Were you surprised when Claire ran into Mary Hawkins at the house she was taken to?
7. Were you surprised at the reappearance of the Duke of Sandringham?
8. Were you surprised that Sandringham revealed his duplicity to Claire?
9. How did you feel when you learned the fate of Hugh Munro?
10. What did you think of the scene where Jamie slipped into bed with Claire (and Mary) and got a little surprise?
11. What were your impressions of their escape from Sandringham's house?
12. What was your reaction when Munro's widow pulled Sandringham's head out of a bag?
13. How did you feel about Alex's Randall's last scene?
14. Did Claire ask too much by taking Jamie with her to Alex Randall's quarters?
Dragonfly in Amber Chapters 46-49
Chapter 46 - Timor Mortis Conturbat Me
pp. 680-701 HC
1. How did you feel knowing that Jamie and Claire were on the road to Culloden despite their efforts to stop it all?
2. If Jamie had let Claire kill Charles like she wanted to, do you think would they have been able to be together?
3. What do you think Dougal said to Jamie before Jamie killed him?
4. How did you feel when Jamie put Fergus on Donas and sent him to Jenny with the Deed of Sasine?
5. Jamie and Claire's last night together...how was it for you?
6. Did you want Claire to go back through the stones?
Part Seven-- Dragonfly in Amber
"Hindsight"
Chapter 47 - Loose Ends
pp. 705-743 HC
7. What is your opinion to Brianna's reaction?
8. Did Claire give Brianna enough proof?
9. Did Claire do the right thing in telling Roger of his relation to Geillis?
Chapter 48 - Witch Hunt
10. Should they have gone after Gillian Edgars?
11. Why do you think the Roger-Geillis connection was not revealed to Brianna by Claire?
Chapter 49 - Blessed Are Those
12. What did you think of Geillis' passage scene (at Craigh Na Dun)?
13. What did you think of the ending of the book?
Dragonfly Wrap Up
1. What are your thoughts on Diana’s moving back and forth between the 1900’s and the 1700’s.
2. Talk about your impressions of Roger in the beginning versus the end of the book.
3. Where does Claire seem more confident, in the 1900’s or 1700’s, why?
4. Which scene did you find the most humor in?
5. Yes, tears flow freely throughout this book, but which scene moved you the most?
6. Do you think Claire’s medical experiences during the 1700’s initiated her desire to be a doctor or
did she already have that desire?
7. Now that we think Jamie survived Culloden, what do you think Claire is feeling? (No Spoilers,
please)
8. Again, no spoiling, what is Master Raymond’s significance to this story?
9. What do you think Brianna was feeling when she realized Claire was telling the truth?
10. Claire has loved Jamie for 20 years, has her love mellowed or grown stronger with time?
Message Board Sources:
Subj: Study Questions for 8/28
Date: 97-08-05 11:00:02 EDT
From: OutlandMax
Subj: STUDY QUESTIONS 9/11
Date: 97-09-05 10:25:09 EDT
From: OutlandMax
Subj: Study Questions Oct 9
Date: 97-09-29 23:10:05 EDT
From: OutlandMax
Additional authors: Tabbak, ThumperTK
