So you just found out your dad's missing. Not only that, but your dad's a powerful sorcerer, so the only thing that could have hurt him has to be even more powerful. Plus your dad deals with the land of the dead, so that thing he's fighting? Yeah, it's probably a dead thing. And to top it all off, your dad lives in a magical world that you haven't seen since you were a kid, and none of your friends can go with you to help find him. Are you scared yet? Well, that's where courage comes in.
Sabriel needs a lot of courage in this book, so it's a good thing she's got plenty. As Sabriel goes on, we meet other brave characters, most notably Touchstone, but it's our main character whose courage is tested to the limit.
Questions About Courage
- Throughout the book, Sabriel is forced to cope with the unknown, including magic she's never used, and a land she's never navigated. Does she seem afraid? In what ways does Sabriel cope with her fears?
- Courage is defined as "the ability to do something that you know is difficult or dangerous." Sabriel goes through many trials during her adventures which require this ability. What do you think is the greatest test of her courage in the story?
- If any other character rivals Sabriel in the courage department, it's Touchstone. How does Touchstone's courage come into play in their adventures?
- Colonel Horyse accompanies Sabriel and Touchstone to Ancelstierre, despite having foreseen his own death in the final battle. In this case, do you think that fear of the known is worse than fear of the unknown?
Chew on This
Sabriel isn't really brave—she just does her job.
Being brave in the face of the unknown is easier than being brave when you have seen your own future.