The Pilgrim's Progress
What’s inside...
John Bunyan's A Pilgrim's Progress is a quest story filled with drama, excitement, and adventure. On his journey of a lifetime to the City of Gold, a young man named Christian meets an extraordinary cast of characters, including the terrible giant, Despair, and the monster, Apollyon. Together with Hopeful, his steadfast companion, Christian survives snipers and mantraps, the Great Bog, Vanity Fair, Lucre Hill, and Castle Doubting. But will he find the courage to cross the final river to the City of Gold and his salvation? This remarkable retelling of the classic novel, by the award-winning children's author Geraldine McCaughrean, brings Bunyan's story to life for a generation of young readers as McCaughrean neatly draws the drama out, gradually allowing the reader to conclude that Christian is not so different from latter day heroes after all. The engaging contemporary illustrations by Jason Cockcroft bring an added poignancy to the story of a youth with a mission in life. This volume is an ideal gift and a great introduction to the full work. WINNER OF THE BLUE PETER BOOK AWARD
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
7-9
Length
128 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What challenges does Christian face on his journey, and how do you think they relate to challenges people face in real life?
How do the characters that Christian meets influence his journey? Can you think of people in your life who guide or challenge you?
Why do you think it's important for Christian to reach the Celestial City? What goals do you have for yourself?
What lessons can we learn about faith and perseverance from Christian's story?
How do the different environments Christian travels through affect his journey? How does your environment affect you?
Tip: Role play these questions
Before reading, give a brief background of the story's setting and main character to provide context.
Relate elements of Christian’s journey to personal experiences or family stories to make discussions more relatable.
Use the allegories in the book to discuss values and beliefs that are important to your family.
Encourage your child to draw parallels between the book's challenges and everyday challenges they might face.
After discussing a chapter, summarize the key points together to reinforce comprehension and retention.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: The importance of resilience.
Explanation: In 'The Pilgrim's Progress', the protagonist Christian faces numerous obstacles on his journey to the Celestial City, each challenge testing his faith and determination.
Real-World Application: Children learn that persistence in face of difficulties is crucial. They can apply this by tackling challenging tasks at school or in personal development with determination and faith.
Example Lesson: The value of guidance and mentorship.
Explanation: Throughout the story, Christian receives guidance from various characters who help him navigate his spiritual journey, emphasizing the importance of wise counsel and support.
Real-World Application: This teaches children to seek advice and learn from parents, teachers, and mentors who can provide wisdom and guidance through various life challenges.
Example Lesson: Consequences of choices.
Explanation: Christian encounters characters who make poor choices and suffer as a result, illustrating the impact of one's decisions on their path and ultimate destination.
Real-World Application: Children can understand that their choices have consequences, fostering decision-making skills that align with their values and long-term goals.
Example Lesson: Staying true to one’s beliefs.
Explanation: Christian’s journey is primarily driven by his steadfast faith and pursuit of his spiritual goals, despite numerous temptations and diversions.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to remain firm in their own beliefs and values, even when faced with peer pressure or popular opinion.
Example Lesson: The reward of perseverance.
Explanation: At the end of the arduous journey, Christian reaches his desired destination, showing that steadfastness leads to achieving one's goals.
Real-World Application: Children learn the importance of sticking to their tasks and responsibilities, understanding that perseverance is often rewarded, be it in academics, sports, or personal goals.