Used with the permission of the iPulp Fiction Library - www.iPulpFiction.com © KB Shaw TITLE: Siren Song by Anne Ursu Study Guide by : Gillian Clark, iPulp Director of Curriculum Pre-Reading Define the following terms from Greek mythology: Mount Olympus Zeus Chronus Poseidon Hades The Underworld Styx Harpies Prometheus Sirens Answer: Mount Olympus – home of the gods Zeus – ruler of Olympus and god of the sky Chronus – Zeus’s father. Zeus overthrows his father. Poseidon – Zeus’s brother. God of the Sea Hades – Zeus’s other brother. God of the Underworld and god of wealth. Hades is also another name for the Underworld. The Underworld – the land of the dead Styx – river in Hades, forming the border to the Underworld Harpies – part woman, part bird, and stealers of food Prometheus – a Titan; friend to Zeus; considered wise and can foretell the future Sirens – part woman, part bird, with sweet singing voices that lure sailors to their doom Based on what you have learned about “sirens” in Greek mythology, make a prediction about what you think this book is about, knowing that the title of the book is “The Siren Song.” Answer: Answers will vary. Students may say that the title lets the reader know that the characters in the book will be lured into something dangerous, not realizing that it might mean their doom. Chapter One Make a list of all of Charlotte’s “ordinary” problems. Then describe her one problem that is anything but ordinary. Answer: Charlotte has been grounded by her parents; wants a cell phone but is not allowed to have one; has to call her parents to let them know where she is at all times; is embarrassed by her parents; has conflicts with her mother; feels like her parents don’t trust her; and is encouraged to do extracurricular activities by her mother. Her unusual problem is that she has to visit the Underworld to save the world, and she can’t share her secret with many people, including her parents and her best friend. Do you like Charlotte? Why or why not? Answer: Answers will vary. Chapter Two At the beginning of this chapter, Charlotte describes a dream she has. What do you predict might be the significance of this dream? Authors often use “foreshadowing” to hint to the reader that something is coming; what do you think might be coming here? Answer: The dream is about Charlotte walking in the Underworld with a sea of dead people. Hades is about to drive her into the River Styx when she wakes up with a start. Students might predict that Charlotte is going to have a dangerous confrontation with Hades. Chapter Three Near the end of the chapter, Charlotte is suspicious that the new boy, Jason, might “know” something. What is it that she thinks he might know? Support your answer. Answer: Charlotte suspects that Jason might know about her visits to the Underworld because Jason looks around secretly and calls her “brave.” Chapter Four Describe the man in the aqua-colored suit. Who is he and what is he like? Answer: He is a god. He appears ancient and wrinkled, and he is dressed in an unusual outfit that is dated—he wears a bowler hat. He loves “mortals” with all of their quirks, considering them to be like pets. He is also mischievous; he likes to play tricks on the mortals.