Anjana Menon
Periods 6 & 7 GTILA
23 January 2011
Socratic Seminar Questions for Sophie’s World
1) What audience is this book aimed for?
I would say anywhere from middle schoolers to adults. There are lots of topics
brought up that can really relate to the world. It makes you think.
2) What is the role of Sophie’s mother in Sophie’s World? Is she really necessary in
the novel? CH. 1
Yes, Sophie’s mother is necessary. She monitors Sophie and keeps the novel
flowing; I guess that’s the word for it.
3) Would Sophie still be an almost-philosopher without Alberto’s lessons? CH 1
Yes. She may not be getting there as quickly, but I have a reference to the book
for proof that she questions the world. See page 1, the last paragraph.
4) Could “Alberto Knox” be Hilde Moller Knag in disguise? They seem connected…
CH 2
Yes, that is possible. Hilde is mentioned a lot throughout the book, and “her”
possessions are everywhere.
5) If Sophie had not received these questions, would she still be leading a “normal”
life? CH 2
I guess. You never know what other trivialities may pop up in life, but I suppose
yes.
6) Without myths, would our world still be similar as to the way it is today? CH 3
No. Myths have shaped our Earth and its cultures.
7) Why do you think people even created myths, if you could explore and try to
figure out why things happen? CH 3
I guess some people were too busy/ lazy, and it was more fun to believe in
something you thought up without too much work.
8) How did science come into existence? CH 3
There must have been a few people who thought myths didn’t seem right, and
began investigations. “Science” may be named after the first scientist.
9) How did Alberto Knox find Sophie Amundsen? CH 4
It may have something to do with Hilde Møller Knag. Maybe Hilde has heard of
Sophie and tells Alberto about her.
10) Page 33 states that nature is always transforming. How does that work, exactly?
CH 4
Nothing can stay forever. In the case of nature, well, nature is like a human.
Every second of a day, we get older; we change, and our thoughts are always in
motion, as are our bodies.
Anjana Menon
Periods 6 & 7 GTILA
23 January 2011
11) If man does not have an immortal soul, then are there a bunch of souls created
every day? CH 5
I believe that man has an immortal soul, but others disagreed… so I’m asking
this for the benefit of others.
12) (Page 45) If the atom is “uncuttable”, what is fission supposed to be? Shouldn’t
the atom be renamed, then? CH 5
I think the atom should be renamed. But they do bring up a point. If the atom is
“cuttable” then nature would become “dilated soup”. I’m so confused!
13) How can all of your life be what it is without Fate intervening at all? CH 6
Fate does have a “say” in your life. Fate does exist. I believe in it.
14) Why doesn’t Alberto Knox go to Sophie’s house for coffee, since it’s not directly
stated in the novel? CH 6, 7
He doesn’t want to show himself to her. It seems as though he never will at this
pace.
15) What caused Alberto Knox to keep his identity a secret until Sophie was
“ready”? CH 7
Sophie must not have been mature enough in his eyes; she probably seemed
undisciplined at first. Then again, she was still trying to hunt him down.
16) Had the Persian king, Xerxes, not burned down Acropolis in 480 BC, would
Athens be a different place today? CH 8
Yes. The history would be way different, and the place wouldn’t be nearly as
magnificent.
17) On page 76, Alberto goes on about the tiny city that basically everything started
in. Is that possible today, I mean, to create a start for a whole new era of
thinking? CH 8
It may not be that simple. Today things are more complicated and we’ve
discovered a lot. We’d have to make discoveries like Pluto is made of cheese or
something. There is a lot of work behind starting a civilization.
18) Without her philosophy courses, would Sophie have been in awe about the
wonders of the world? CH 9
Maybe. This can be argued with several times because Sophie shows proof that
she cares about the world, but she goes way more in-depth after her philosophy
courses.
19) Was Sophie given the name “Sophie” because of the word “philosophy”? CH 9
Most probably; yes.
20) On page 95, the 5th paragraph, Sophie says something “impels” her. Could this
be something to do with “nature’s effects”, or is it just human nature? CH 10
It’s probably just human nature; I don’t think philosophy has that much of an
effect on people!
Anjana Menon
Periods 6 & 7 GTILA
23 January 2011
21) On page 96, towards the top of the page, do “Berkeley” and “Bjerkely” hint at
anything? Is it foreshadowing anything?
Perhaps they are scenes of nature that Sophie will encounter during the next few
chapters. And perhaps the painter, Smibert, is also some big idea later on.