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    The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge Discussion Guide

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    Candlewick Press
    The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge author: M.T. Anderson illustrator: Eugene Yelchin Uptight elfin historian Brangwain Spurge is on a mission: survive being catapulted across the mountains into goblin territory, deliver a priceless peace offering to their mysterious dark lord, and spy on the goblin kingdom — from which no elf has returned alive in more than a hundred years. Brangwain’s host, the goblin archivist Werfel, is delighted to show Brangwain around. They should be the best of friends, but a series of extraordinary double crosses, blunders, and cultural misunderstandings throws these two bumbling scholars into the middle of an international crisis that may spell death for them — and war for their nations. Witty mixed media illustrations show Brangwain’s furtive missives back to the elf kingdom, while Werfel’s determinedly unbiased narrative tells an entirely different story. A hilarious and biting social commentary that could only come from the likes of National Book Award winner M. T. Anderson and Newbery Honoree Eugene Yelchin, this tale is rife with thrilling action and visual humor . . . and a comic disparity that suggests the ultimate victor in a war is perhaps not who won the battles, but who gets to write the history. Subverting convention, award-winning creators M. T. Anderson and Eugene Yelchin pair up for an anarchic, outlandish, and deeply political saga of warring elf and goblin kingdoms.

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    The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge Discussion Guide

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    Candlewick Press
    221 views3 pages
    The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge author: M.T. Anderson illustrator: Eugene Yelchin Uptight elfin historian Brangwain Spurge is on a mission: survive being catapulted across the mountains into goblin territory, deliver a priceless peace offering to their mysterious dark lord, and spy on the goblin kingdom — from which no elf has returned alive in more than a hundred years. Brangwain’s host, the goblin archivist Werfel, is delighted to show Brangwain around. They should be the best of friends, but a series of extraordinary double crosses, blunders, and cultural misunderstandings throws these two bumbling scholars into the middle of an international crisis that may spell death for them — and war for their nations. Witty mixed media illustrations show Brangwain’s furtive missives back to the elf kingdom, while Werfel’s determinedly unbiased narrative tells an entirely different story. A hilarious and biting social commentary that could only come from the likes of National Book Award winner M. T. Anderson and Newbery Honoree Eugene Yelchin, this tale is rife with thrilling action and visual humor . . . and a comic disparity that suggests the ultimate victor in a war is perhaps not who won the battles, but who gets to write the history. Subverting convention, award-winning creators M. T. Anderson and Eugene Yelchin pair up for an anarchic, outlandish, and deeply political saga of warring elf and goblin kingdoms.

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    The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge author: M.T. Anderson illustrator: Eugene Yelchin Uptight elfin historian Brangwain Spurge is on a mission: survive being catapulted across the mountains into goblin territory, deliver a priceless peace offering to their mysterious dark lord, and spy on the goblin kingdom — from which no elf has returned alive in more than a hundred years. Brangwain’s host, the goblin archivist Werfel, is delighted to show Brangwain around. They should be the best of friends, but a series of extraordinary double crosses, blunders, and cultural misunderstandings throws these two bumbling scholars into the middle of an international crisis that may spell death for them — and war for their nations. Witty mixed media illustrations show Brangwain’s furtive missives back to the elf kingdom, while Werfel’s determinedly unbiased narrative tells an entirely different story. A hilarious and biting social commentary that could only come from the likes of National Book Award winner M. T. Anderson and Newbery Honoree Eugene Yelchin, this tale is rife with thrilling action and visual humor . . . and a comic disparity that suggests the ultimate victor in a war is perhaps not who won the battles, but who gets to write the history. Subverting convention, award-winning creators M. T. Anderson and Eugene Yelchin pair up for an anarchic, outlandish, and deeply political saga of warring elf and goblin kingdoms.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
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    221 views3 pages

    The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge Discussion Guide

    Uploaded by

    Candlewick Press
    The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge author: M.T. Anderson illustrator: Eugene Yelchin Uptight elfin historian Brangwain Spurge is on a mission: survive being catapulted across the mountains into goblin territory, deliver a priceless peace offering to their mysterious dark lord, and spy on the goblin kingdom — from which no elf has returned alive in more than a hundred years. Brangwain’s host, the goblin archivist Werfel, is delighted to show Brangwain around. They should be the best of friends, but a series of extraordinary double crosses, blunders, and cultural misunderstandings throws these two bumbling scholars into the middle of an international crisis that may spell death for them — and war for their nations. Witty mixed media illustrations show Brangwain’s furtive missives back to the elf kingdom, while Werfel’s determinedly unbiased narrative tells an entirely different story. A hilarious and biting social commentary that could only come from the likes of National Book Award winner M. T. Anderson and Newbery Honoree Eugene Yelchin, this tale is rife with thrilling action and visual humor . . . and a comic disparity that suggests the ultimate victor in a war is perhaps not who won the battles, but who gets to write the history. Subverting convention, award-winning creators M. T. Anderson and Eugene Yelchin pair up for an anarchic, outlandish, and deeply political saga of warring elf and goblin kingdoms.

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    Some of the key takeaways from the discussion guide are that the book uses multiple narrators to tell the story from different perspectives and explores cultural differences and misunderstandings between elves and goblins. It also highlights the power of ideas and intellectual strength.

    Spurge and Werfel will face challenges like overcoming their own biases and closed-mindedness developed from being products of their societies. They will also have to navigate the entrenched power structures and corruption in their homelands. There is also risk of backlash and resistance to change from traditionalists in both societies.

    The book suggests that ideas and values can contribute greatly to a country's security, as seen through Werfel and Spurge's intellectual strengths which help save their lives. It also values questioning corruption and seeing truths that others may be blind to.

    CANDLEWICK PRESS DISCUSSION GUIDE

    The
    Assassination
    of
    Brangwain Spurge
    M. T. Anderson
    and

    Eugene Yelchin

    About the Book


    -9822-5 It’s been more than a hundred years since an elf
    HC: 978-0-7636
    returned to Elfland — alive, that is — after going to the
    goblin kingdom. Yet the historian Brangwain Spurge,
    holding tight to a priceless peace offering, is catapulted
    Common Core
    Connections deep into enemy territory. At first, the spindly elf is
    This discussion guide, which can be used with
    graciously entertained by Werfel, a goblin archivist
    large or small groups, will help students meet several and his assigned host. (Goblins are renowned for their
    of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for hospitality, as well as their brutality.) Before too long,
    English Language Arts. These include the reading
    though, Werfel discovers that Spurge is not just a spy,
    literature standards for key ideas and details, craft
    and structure, and integration of knowledge and but also rude, badly informed, and very likely to get
    ideas (CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL), as well as the speaking them both killed. Told with witty text and mixed-media
    and listening standards for comprehension and
    artwork that both illustrates and undermines the prose,
    collaboration and for presentation of knowledge and
    ideas (CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL). Questions can also be
    this daring adventure is full of double crosses, blunders,
    used as writing prompts for independent work. cultural misunderstandings, pitched battles, intriguing
    ideas, and a few missing fingers.
    CANDLEWICK PRESS DISCUSSION GUIDE

    Discussion Questions
      1. There are many ways to tell a story, as The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge makes
    clear. Who are the narrators of this novel? What does each contribute to the story?
    Which narrator do you find to be the most trustworthy? Why?

      2. This book has two authors, M. T. Anderson and Eugene Yelchin. Why do you think
    their shared credit is fitting?

      3. Why does Clivers, a proud member of the Order of the Clean Hand, choose Spurge for this dangerous mission
    to the goblin kingdom? How does Clivers underestimate his old classmate? Despite losing so many fingers, why
    does Clivers remain loyal to the elf king?

      4. Take a closer look at Spurge’s transmissions back to Elfland. According to Clivers, they depict “whatever he
    pictures in his mind,” his impression of things as opposed to reality (page 160). If Spurge were using a camera,
    how would his transmissions be different? Would they be more honest? Why?

      5. For the goblins, “hospitality was holy” (page 29). What risks does Werfel take to be a good host to Spurge? Why
    does Spurge mistreat his host? When does he stop acting like a bad guest and start behaving like a good friend?
    How does that transformation save his life, and Werfel’s, too?

      6. Books that depict warfare, treachery, and personal humiliation tend not to be very funny, but this one is often
    hilarious. What is your favorite piece of comic dialogue? What is your favorite comic scene? Why?

      7. Spurge survives his many ordeals, so why do you think this book is entitled The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge?

      8. “Werfel thought of the old saying: Elf and goblin, we all have pointy ears. So true” (page 81). Beyond their ears,
    what other characteristics do elves and goblins share? What qualities set them apart?

      9. Would you rather be a goblin or an elf ? Why?

    10. When he finally sees them for himself, Werfel is appalled by Spurge’s transmissions back to Elfland. Why are
    they so disturbing to Werfel? Why is Spurge so embarrassed by them?

    11. Compare the rulers of the two kingdoms. What does each expect from their subjects? How does each hold on to
    power?

    12. Like most elves, Spurge is disgusted by many goblin practices, including their devotion to discarded skin. What
    do you think of goblins’ reverence for old flesh? Why is Spurge’s experience with his own skin at the end of the
    novel so significant?

    The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge • Candlewick Press Discussion Guide • www.candlewick.com • page 2
    Illustration © 2018 by Eugene Yelchin
    CANDLEWICK PRESS DISCUSSION GUIDE

    13. D
     espite mounting evidence of the rot in his homeland, Spurge is blind to Elfland’s problems
    through most of this novel. Yet Werfel clearly sees the corruption in the goblin kingdom.
    Why is one scholar more open to disturbing truths about his country than the other?

    14. M
     ilitary strength is highly prized in most nations, but what about
    intellectual strength? How do ideas and values contribute to a country’s
    security? How do Werfel and Spurge prove the potency of brain power?

    15. Perhaps you’ve heard the assertion “History is written by the victors” in a
    classroom or on television. What do you think it really means? Does it apply to
    this novel? Why?

    16. At the end of the book, Spurge and Werfel are described as “friends who want to change the world
    together” (page 516). What challenges do they face? Do you think they’ll succeed? Why?

    About the Creators


    M. T. ANDERSON is the author of Feed, winner of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize; the
    National Book Award–winning The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation,
    Volume I: The Pox Party and its sequel, The Kingdom on the Waves, both New York Times
    bestsellers and Michael L. Printz Honor Books; Symphony for the City of the Dead: Dmitri
    Shostakovich and the Siege of Leningrad; Landscape with Invisible Hand; and many other books
    for children and young adults. He lives near Boston, Massachusetts.

    EUGENE YELCHIN is a Russian-American author and artist whose books include


    Breaking Stalin’s Nose, a Newbery Honor Book; The Haunting of Falcon House, a Golden Kite
    Award winner; and The Rooster Prince of Breslov, a National Jewish Book Award winner. He
    has also received the SCBWI Tomie dePaola Award for illustration. He lives in Topanga,
    California.

    The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge • Candlewick Press Discussion Guide • www.candlewick.com • page 3
    Illustration © 2018 by Eugene Yelchin. Photograph of M. T. Anderson by Sonya Sones. Photograph of Eugene Yelchin by Roxyanne Young.

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