1. This novel explores various forms of bravery. Lyra leaves her comfortable and opulent home with her newly discovered mother to rescue her friends. Gyptian men and women endanger their lives for her and to save other children. How does Pullman define bravery? Do you agree with his definition?

2. Lyra exemplifies loyalty to her friends but faces numerous decisions involving conflicting loyalties. She has to choose between the Master of Jordan College and her uncle, between her mother and her young friends, and between the gyptians and the non-gyptians who were her "family." How does she navigate these choices? What criteria does she use? Do you agree with her decisions?

3. Morality is a central theme in these novels. Lyra is a young woman who frequently disobeys her elders, gets into trouble for testing boundaries, explores forbidden places in Oxford, and asks forbidden questions. She often acts against authority but seems to follow her own moral compass. How would you describe her sense of morality? Do you agree with it?

4. Religion plays a significant role in the challenges Lyra faces. How would you characterize the religion in her world?

5. Through Lyra, Pullman examines fundamental questions about our acceptance of authority in both personal and public spheres. Does Lyra always, sometimes, or never accept the authority of her elders? How does she make these decisions?

6. Pullman's novel raises many fundamental questions about religion itself. For instance, it is evident that Lyra must oppose human religious authorities to save her young friends. Do you think Pullman distrusts all established religions, or is he offering insights into how people practice their religion morally or immorally?

7. Pullman also references Christian religion and its doctrines. In interviews about the novel and its sequels, he mentions that he is reinterpreting Milton's Paradise Lost. Do you think he agrees with the established religious view that "the fall" of the angels and the fall of Eve are catastrophic events in human history? Does he offer a different interpretation? What is that interpretation? Do you agree or disagree with him?

8. In Lyra's world, each person's soul takes the form of an animal that lives outside their body. What characteristics does Pullman suggest we can discern about a person by looking at their soul-animal? How does he use daemons to illustrate similarities and differences between characters, such as social status, intelligence, age, and trustworthiness? Can you compare some daemons from the story?

9. The story features a variety of intelligent beings, both human and non-human. How would you describe Scholars, Lords and ladies, gyptians, witches, skraelings, tartars, and bears? How does Pullman give us insights into their lives while still advancing the narrative?

10. A stereotypical character typically embodies general traits of a particular type of person and lacks unique, individual characteristics. Are there any stereotypical characters in this novel? Who are they, and what do you believe they represent? Are they primary or secondary characters?

11. In the story, a person's daemon, like Lyra's Pantalaimon, changes forms until the person reaches puberty. What is your opinion of this concept as a literary tool? Pullman discusses the role of the daemon in the narrative. Why is the daemon usually of the opposite gender to their human? What are your thoughts on this idea within the story? How do daemons benefit the storytelling? What are the drawbacks?

12. A daemon appears to be very close to their human counterpart. However, Pantalaimon frequently disagrees with Lyra. How realistic do you find this? Do you ever argue with yourself when making significant decisions? How does Lyra...