1. When Lyra is with Mrs. Coulter at the Bolvangar, she realizes she is safe only as long as she pretends to know very little of what is actually going on. What does Lyra tell Coulter to throw her off track?

2. Summarize what Lyra overhears of the conversation about escaped daemons between Mrs. Coulter and the men in the conference room.

3. What happens after Lyra learns that Tony Makarios, the daemonless child she retrieves, is dead?

4. When Lyra and Mrs. Coulter are reunited at the Bolvangar, what does the woman tell the girl about Dust?

5. While Lyra is imprisoned in the armored bears' palace, what does she learn about the king bear from a fellow prisoner?

6. At the Bolvangar, what do the three girls who wake Lyra up tell her about what goes on there?

7. When Thorold wakes up Lyra at Lord Asriel's residence in the North, he is concerned. What does he tell her?

8. Why does Iorek take Lyra to the village near the Bolvangar?

9. Right before the battle between Iorek and Iofur, Lyra asks to meet and speak with Iorek. Why does she do this?

10. At the Bolvangar, how does Lyra contact Roger without attracting attention?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Various individuals and groups in the book have their own agenda.

1. Explain, in detail, how three of the groups or individuals depend on Lyra to further their goals.

2. How is Lyra able to stay on her own mission and complete her job when so many different factions want so much out of her? Support your answer with examples.

Essay Topic 2

Compare and contrast Lyra's feelings towards Lord Asriel and Mrs. Coulter at the start of the story, when she does not yet know they are her parents, and at the conclusion of the book, when she knows they are her parents and has seen what they are capable of. How do her feelings evolve? How do her feelings tear her apart? Despite her mixed feelings, what does Lyra become certain of?