1. Outline the practical lessons on horse care presented in Black Beauty. Which of these principles remain relevant today? What new techniques have been developed since Sewell's era to enhance horse care?

2. Captain, who served in the cavalry during the Crimean War, may have lost his first owner in the Charge of the Light Brigade. Write a report on this war or battle, or create a story from Captain's viewpoint.

3. An early reviewer remarked that if the movement for the humane treatment of animals had created its own anti-cruelty work, it could not have produced anything more beneficial than Black Beauty. Identify several passages from the book that advocate for the humane treatment of animals and explain how each passage conveys its argument.

4. Discuss how Sewell's experiences led her to become a fervent advocate for the humane treatment of animals and to write Black Beauty. Consider her Quaker background and her lifelong affection for animals, particularly horses, among the various influences.

5. Contrast the impact Black Beauty had on the movement for the humane treatment of animals with the influence Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin had on the anti-slavery movement in the United States.

6. Compare Black Beauty to George MacDonald's At the Back of the North Wind. How do both books address the topic of London cabs? Do you believe MacDonald's work influenced Sewell? Explain why or why not.