The Starless Sea

Morgenstern uses elements within other stories to foreshadow events in Zachary’s story. Give some examples of foreshadowing throughout The Starless Sea. What do you believe was the most powerful element of foreshadowing in this book, and why?

Consider the Innovative Storytelling discussion, in which it’s stated that people want to have agency within a larger, predetermined narrative. Do you agree? How do you think fate and free will play out in the course of life?

Think of a time when you’ve read or experienced a story and seen it one way, while someone else has had a completely different experience. How does a story get its meaning? How does the reader/player/viewer’s experience affect the way they interpret a story, whether that story is textual or visual?

Mirabel says that once people have read a story, the real setting often disappoints because it doesn’t match what they’ve imagined. Describe a time when you’ve experienced this disappointment—when you’ve imagined a setting and then been disappointed by the reality. What about a time when a real-life setting exceeded your expectations?

Mirabel posits that the nature of a story is change. How did the characters from The Starless Sea change as the story progressed? Why did Allegra want to prevent change within that setting?

The Keeper says that the symbols on the Harbor dice nudge the story in a certain direction, but they don’t predetermine its outcome. What do you think the dice would show if you rolled them, and why? Do you like what you think the dice would say about you? If not, what would you change?

Give an example of a critical turning point for one of the characters, when they made a decision that affected the story’s outcome. What would have happened if the character had made a different choice? How does someone make the right decision in a significant moment when they are not aware that it is a significant moment?

Characters in The Starless Sea often struggle to know what is real in a fantastic world, where timelines intersect and run out of sync. In your own life, how do you know that your perception of reality is true? What is the meaning of “real”? Can you describe a time when you thought something was real but were proven wrong?