Journey to the Center of the Earth - Week 2

[Gem , Moderator]

The Journey to the Center of the Earth
Week Two, Chapters 16 - 30

1) How does the descent into the crater begin to shift the tone of the story? What do you think about the characters' decision-making as they choose between tunnels? How do you feel about Lidenbrock’s leadership?

2) How is the growing hardship (especially hunger and thirst) testing the limits of their determination? Do you see any cracks in the relationship between uncle and nephew? Why or why not? What do you make of Lidenbrock’s reaction to Axel’s suffering?

3) Discuss the group's decision to follow the wrong tunnel and turn back. Does this feel like a major turning point? How does this moment build tension in the story?

4) The reunion deepens emotional bonds. How have relationships changed under stress? What new qualities do you see in each character now compared to when their journey started?

5) How does Verne blend awe and fear in his descriptions of the subterranean sea? What do you think the significance of naming the sea after Lidenbrock? Is this ego, tradition, or something else?

6) Verne introduces signs of prehistoric life (giant mushrooms, bones, fossils). How do these elements affect the tone and genre of the story? What do these discoveries say about humanity’s relationship to time and nature?

[Brian E]

I just finished the section and I just wanted to throw a quick comment about how wimpy our narrator Axel is. Good lord, he lets a middle-aged man physically out-do him. At times, I find myself forgetting that he's not a 16 year-old.

[Deborah, Moderator]

Maybe Verne put axel in as the voice of reason, but to this modern reader he’s a bit whiney. We’ve got the professor who is so obsessed he won’t see reason, and Hans who I wish took a more active role in saying this doesn’t make sense. The fright of being there alone was well described. There seem to be some coincidences that make it hard for me to truly believe

[Lori, Moderator]

Just after I read this section, YouTube's alligator rhythm recommended a video about underground lakes, I think from the Astrum or Astrum Earth channel. I don't have any deep observations (no pun intended), but I enjoyed the descriptions of the terrain (subterrain?) and characters.