1. Do you think the dragon Scales is a sympathetic or an unsympathetic character? Give your reasons.

2. Jones follows the paths of several characters through the book. If you had to say that one was the main character, would you choose Derk, Blade, or some other character? Explain why.

3. How does Jones prepare for the revelation of who the Pilgrim Professor Ledbury really is?

4. When Diana Wynne Jones appeared in a children's bookstore in the late 1980s to give a reading and sign books, the store was packed, and nearly everyone in the sizable crowd was an adult. What traits of a book such as Dark Lord of Derkholm would make it appealing to adult readers? What traits would make it appealing to teenagers or younger readers?

5. Do you think that Derk is right to keep Blade from attending University? Do you think that Blade...