Poppy

Discuss tyranny and heroism in the novel. How is Mr. Ocax like a tyrant? How is Poppy like a hero? How are the two characters similar to and different from one another? What qualities do you think the novel ultimately suggests form the difference between heroes and villains?

Consider the Dimwood Forest setting. How does its characterization change over the course of the novel? How does this reflect important changes or realizations in Poppy’s personal journey?

Analyze the role of fear in the novel. What does each character in the novel fear? How do they respond to that fear? How does fear contribute to the novel’s key themes and ideas?

As an animal fantasy novel, all the characters in Poppy are non-human. How can the reader’s knowledge of the different species in the novel and their roles in the food chain or ecosystem create dramatic irony, enhance the reader’s understanding of themes in the novel, or help the reader predict events in the plot?

Poppy’s adventures in the novel mimic a classic hero’s journey in many ways. Analyze Poppy’s development in the novel. What stages of the hero’s journey can you spot in her story? How does the author use it as a framing to reinforce Poppy’s role in the novel?

Analyze the diction Avi uses for the different characters in the novel. How do variations in tone and vocabulary characterize different characters, species, or societies in the novel? How does diction suggest or reinforce the dynamics between different characters?

Discuss the role of Poppy’s parents in the novel. How is Lungwort characterized? How do Poppy’s views differ from her parents’ beliefs? What does the novel suggest about familial ties and independence?

At the end of their quest, the hero is often transformed and endowed with auspicious new knowledge or wisdom. How do you think Poppy is ultimately transformed at the end of her quest? What has she gained from her adventures, and how has it pushed her towards maturity?