The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge

In addition to those provided at the end of the book:

• Compare and contrast the characters of Werfel and Spurge. Werfel is a goblin scholar who believes in tradition and lives by a code of honor but is also very eager to learn from the “other”. Spurge is educated (an elfin historian), but he is immediately insulting and continues to be for some time. In spite of Spurge’s behavior, Werfel continuously shows great restraint and patience as he is repeatedly insulted. 
• Reflect upon Spurge’s initial insolence towards Werfel’s hospitality. Imagine traveling to a new country and meeting with your host for the first time. Based on our Islamic tradition, how should you greet your host and receive the hospitality shown to you, even if it’s in ways that are different than you are accustomed to? Had Spurge graciously accepted Werfel’s hospitality, how might the chain of events that ensued differ?
• Overtime, Spurge and Werfel develop a deep understanding which transforms into a strong friendship. How did this friendship grow? Over the long period of time spent together and talking openly, they got to know one another, eventually building trust.
• Why are Spurge’s transmissions so biased? The elfin has preconceived notions of goblins—what he is told, the history he reads, and what he hears informs the way he sees the goblin world. The authors ask if Spurge used a camera instead, would the images be different. Is it possible that even photographs we see can be biased? Compare this with examples found in current events today and discuss.
• What can we learn through the nefarious letters Clivers pens to the Elf King? We get insight into Elfin reality—a very different narrative than what Spurge, the Elfin historian, knows. How is it possible that Spurge, who has studied history, can be so wrong in his views of the Goblin world? What else do we learn from his letters?
• Clivers writes “We are worried there might be protests … As a result, we at the Order have taken the liberty of rounding up all the bards, singers, preachers, and printers who might complain, and we’ve slapped them in prison.” (p. 316) Do you think everyone imprisoned committed a crime? Why would preachers and printers be dangerous in times of war?
• The authors give us a brief glimpse of Clivers in his youth. How does his adolescent bullying of Spurge manifest into his personality as an adult? Think about the type of career he chose as an adult and what he is willing to do for political gain. Discuss how the poor choices you make in your younger years, if not corrected, can shape your character as an adult.
• Reflect on this quote by Mark Twain: “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.” How does it resonate with the story?
• In the discussion questions at the end of the book, the authors remind us of the phrase “History is written by the victors.” How does this writing of history unfold? History can be selectively written, seeping its way into school books, subtly inundating the stories we read and movies we watch. People can be made into heroes or enemies overnight. Statues can be erected to commemorate so-called victors or destroyed to celebrate a “victory”. Governments can memorialize a time, place or a person as it suits their purpose. And while this used to be done slowly and methodically over a period of time, these days propaganda can be broadcast instantly to the public through digital media. 
• As Muslims, how can we discern Truth from falsehood? Practice of our faith and our reliance on Allah ﷻ go hand in hand. In following the first word of revelation—iqra—reading is key. Know your history and never stop learning. We also ask Allah ﷻ for guidance. Discuss the following dua (supplication) as a means of protection: “O Allah, enable me to see the truth as truth and give me the ability to follow it, and enable me to see the falsehood as false and give me the ability to refrain from it.” 
• The authors end their discussion questions with a final reflection on Spurge and Werfel “as friends who want to change the world together.” (p. 516). The authors ask “Do you think they will succeed?” What do you think? Can two people really change the world? We are all placed in this world because we have a part to play for Allah ﷻ. However insignificant your task/role may seem, the impact our choices make can be so profound, changing the very course of history. So it is incumbent upon us to stay on the path of Truth, to work with ihsan (moral excellence), and then to leave the final outcome to Allah ﷻ.