Teaching The Romance of the Forest

1. What forces La Motte to take responsibility for Adeline, and why can't he refuse?

2. Why do the criminals choose La Motte specifically to become Adeline's protector rather than handling the situation themselves?

3. Where do you see this pattern of 'responsibility dumping' in workplaces, families, or communities today?

4. If you were in La Motte's position - desperate and vulnerable - how would you handle being forced into unwanted responsibility?

5. What does this chapter reveal about how people with power use others' desperation to solve their own problems?

6. What forces the La Motte family to make the abbey their home, and how does each family member react to this decision?

7. Why does Adeline adapt more successfully to their new circumstances than Madame La Motte, despite being younger and more vulnerable?

8. Where have you seen this pattern in your own life or community - people facing the same difficult situation but having completely different experiences based on their mindset?

9. If you were forced to start over in an unfamiliar place with limited resources, what specific strategies would you use to build stability and find reasons for hope?

10. What does this chapter reveal about the relationship between our external circumstances and our internal experience of those circumstances?

11. How does each member of the La Motte family change once they settle into abbey life, and what role does Adeline play in these changes?

12. Why does Adeline's tragic backstory actually strengthen the family bond rather than create more fear and suspicion?

13. Where do you see people today forming 'chosen families' when their biological families fail them or aren't available?

14. If you were helping someone who'd been betrayed by family like Adeline was, what would you do to help them rebuild trust?

15. What does this chapter suggest about whether we're stuck with the family we're born into, or if we can create the family we need?

16. What specific behaviors does La Motte display when he realizes authorities are searching for him, and how do these actions affect his family?

17. Why does Madame La Motte become suspicious of Adeline without any real evidence? What role does stress play in her reasoning?

18. Think of a workplace crisis you've witnessed—layoffs, budget cuts, or management changes. How did different people respond, and what did their reactions reveal about their character?

19. If you were in Adeline's position—dependent on people who are now treating you with suspicion during a crisis—how would you protect yourself while maintaining your integrity?

20. What does this chapter suggest about the difference between how people present themselves in good times versus who they really are under pressure?