Knights of the Kitchen Table

How does Scieszka use Monty Python and the Holy Grail to underscore or complement his story and the challenges that the boys face? What do his allusions bring to the story that it would not otherwise have? In what ways, if any, do they detract?

What effect does beginning the book in the middle of the action have on the reading experience? What are the benefits and drawbacks of beginning a story this way? How would the story have read differently if Scieszka started the book at Joe’s birthday party instead of back in time?

Who or what is the main antagonist of Knights of the Kitchen Table, and why? What about this person or entity makes them an antagonist, and why are they more threatening than others in the story? Support your answer with evidence from the text.

Explore the significance of Joe’s mother being unaware of the boys traveling through time. How does her unawareness define how the magic of the story works? What does it suggest about adults versus children in terms of using or being affected by magic?

Analyze Merlin’s character through his actions and dialogue. How does he feel about the boys, and why does he feel this way? What is the significance of Merlin not trusting the boys while King Arthur and the rest of his court do?

After the boys are returned to their own time, Joe finds the card Queen Guenevere chose in his pocket. What are the implications of this? How does this inform how the story’s magic works? Based on the book’s events, what is the most likely way the card got there?

Explore the significance of both The Book’s magic and Merlin’s eyes being green. Does the narrative imply that The Book and Merlin are linked based on the rules of magic that it’s established? Why or why not?

What specific moments anchor the text within medieval times and King Arthur’s court? Are there times when there are not enough grounding moments?