Reading guide for The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown

Reading Guide Questions

Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!

The following questions are intended to enhance your discussion, spotlight memorable passages, and make your reading experience of The Da Vinci Code even livelier.

1. As a symbologist, Robert Langdon has a wealth of academic knowledge that helps him view the world in a unique way. Now that you've read The Da Vinci Code, are there any aspects of life/history/faith that you are seeing in a different light?
   
   
2. Langdon and Teabing disagree as to whether the Sangreal documents should be released to the world. If you were the Grand Master of the Priory of Sion, would you release the documents? If so, what do you think their effect would be?
   
   
3. What observations does this novel make about our past? How do these ideas relate to our future?
   
   
4. Other than his fear of being framed for murder, what motivates Langdon to follow this perilous quest? Do his motivations change?
   
   
5. The novel's "quest" involves numerous puzzles and codes. Did you enjoy trying to solve these puzzles along with the characters? Did you solve any of the puzzles before the characters did?
   
   
6. If you could spend a day in any of the places described in this novel, where would it be, and why? The Louvre? Westminster Abbey? Rosslyn Chapel? The Temple Church? Somewhere else?
   
   
7. Historian Leigh Teabing claims the founding fathers of Christianity hijacked the good name of Jesus for political reasons. Do you agree? Does the historical evidence support Teabing's claim?
   
   
8. Has this book changed your ideas about faith, religion, or history in any way?
   
   
9. Would you rather live in a world without religion…or a world without science?
   
   
10. Saunière placed a lot of confidence in Langdon. Was this confidence well-placed? What other options might Saunière have had? Did Saunière make the right decision separating Sophie from the rest of her family?
    
    
11. Do you imagine Langdon should forgive Teabing for his misguided actions? On the other hand, do you think Teabing should forgive Langdon for refusing to release the Sangreal documents?
    
    
12. Does the world have a right to know all aspects of its history, or can an argument be made for keeping certain information secret?
    
    
13. What is interesting about the way this story is told? How are the episodes of the novel arranged and linked? In your discussion, you might want to identify where the turning points in the action are where those moments are after which everything is different. Did you anticipate them?
    
    
14. What is the novel's theme? What central message or idea links all the other components of the novel together?
    
    
15. For most people, the word "God" feels holy, while the word "Goddess" feels mythical. What are your thoughts on this? Do you imagine those perceptions will ever change?
    
    
16. Will you look at the artwork of Da Vinci any differently now that you know more about his "secret life?"
    

Unless otherwise stated, this discussion guide is reprinted with the permission of Anchor Books. Any page references refer to a USA edition of the book, usually the trade paperback version, and may vary in other editions.