#1) Anthony Doerr writes, “You know the greatest lesson of history? It's that history is whatever the victors say it is. That's the lesson. Whoever wins, that's who decides the history.” What do you think of this quote? Can you relate this to the way Americans perceive the war?

 

#2) What is your interpretation of the title? How does it relate to the novel?

 

#3) How did being blind make Marie perceive the war differently? Did she gain any advantages from being blind? Imagine you lost a sense other than sight. How would that change the way you perceive the world, the way you live, and the relationships you create?

 

#4) Do greed and material possessions have the ability to corrupt even the strongest of wills? What do you think made Marie decide to return the Sea of Flames back to the sea?

 

#5) Why do you think Marie gave Werner the key to the grotto? Why did Werner take the model of Etienne's house but leave the Sea of Flames in the sea? Did they expect to see each other after the war?