Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. For many years, the only type of relationship celebrated in books, TV, and film were between cisgender men and women. However, in modern times, that is changing. Can you think of stories in recent popular media that celebrate non-heteronormative relationships? Why is representation of all types of relationships important, particularly for LGBTQ+ teens?

Teaching Suggestion: This question will get students thinking about society’s conventions regarding sexuality and how queer literature is important for feeling affirmed and Overcoming Shame. You may want to mention that Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe was awarded a Lambda Literary Award, which is a prize given to books that elevate and affirm the value of LGBTQ+ stories and lives. In the links below, you will find further discussion about why LGBTQ+ representation in books is important, especially for teens and young adults.

• “Why Queer Literature Is Vital for People Growing Up LGBTQ+”—a 2020 article from Random House book publishers 
• “Lambda Literary 30th Anniversary Video”—a 3-minute video from Lambda Literary tracing the history of the organization

2. Cultures around the world have different interpretations of the significance of dreams. What do you know about the attitudes of, for example, Indigenous or Native American cultures concerning dreams? Do Eastern cultures think differently about dreaming that Western ones do? Consider your own beliefs about dreams. Do you find psychological interpretations more compelling than spiritual ones, or vice versa?

Teaching Suggestion: Dreams and dreaming feature as a prominent motif throughout Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe. Native American cultures have certain beliefs about dreams (see “Native American Legends and Stories About Dreams” on Native-languages.org), and many other cultures around the world have their own beliefs about the significance of dreams. This prompt should elicit conversation about the greater importance of dreams, allowing students to more easily identify the deeper meaning of dreams throughout the novel.

• “What Your Dreams Actually Mean, According to Science” from TIME magazine
• “To Dream in Different Cultures” from the New York Times (subscription may be needed to view)
• “The Cultural Dimensions of Dreaming” from Psychology Today

Personal Connection Prompt

This prompt can be used for in-class discussion, exploratory free-writing, or reflection homework before reading the novel.

Friendships that form over a shared love of art can be some of the strongest relationships. Reflect on the last time you bonded with a friend over a shared favorite book, TV show, movie, or other type of media. What was the book/TV show/movie? How did it make you feel to share and discuss it with your friend? Did their interpretation of the art influence or change your own? Consider your experience sharing this connection with a friend and how it differs from other friendships in which the primary connection does not involve sharing art.

Teaching Suggestion: The theme of The Power of Art and Literature, particularly as a connector between friends, is a major thread throughout the book. Students who belong to any kind of fandom community—for example, the Marvel Cinematic Universe fandom, Potterheads (the Harry Potter fandom), or even fans of K-pop superstar group BTS—will understand the power of having the shared love of some kind of art as a touchstone for close friendship.

• “Why All of My Best Relationships Involve Books” from Book Riot

Differentiation Suggestion: For learners who are more energized and engaged by visual material, this prompt could be approached with a “show and tell” activity. Students could be asked to present to the class a piece of media that they are passionate about, whether it be a book, TV show, movie, comic book, or musical group; they can then be asked to show an artifact from it and tell the class in 3-5 minutes why this piece of media is important to them.