What About Me?

Author: Ed Young

Publisher: Philomel

Contents 1 Summary 2 Guidelines for Philosophical Discussion 3 Questions for Philosophical Discussion

[edit] Summary

A young boy determinedly follows the instructions of the Grand Master in the hope of gaining knowledge, only to be surprised as how he acquires it. Based on a Sufi tale.

[edit] Guidelines for Philosophical Discussion

[edit] Questions for Philosophical Discussion

by Hannah Esrick

In the story, the boy wants knowledge but he does not know to gain it.

1. Why does the boy want knowledge?
2. Why does he not know how to gain knowledge?
3. Do you know how you would gain knowledge?

The boy says he will see a Grand Master.

1. Can the Grand Master give the boy knowledge?
2. How does one person give another person knowledge?
3. What is knowledge?
4. How do you know when someone has knowledge?

The Grand Master is wise.

1. How do you know when someone is wise?
2. Is all people with knowledge wise?
3. Is there a difference between being wise and knowledge?

Each person that the boy meets needs something.

1. What do you need?
2. Is needing something different from wanting something?
3. What does the boy need? What does the boy want?
4. What does the Grand Master need? What does the Grand Master want?
5. What does each character in the book need? What does each character of the book want?
6. Is wanting similar to desire?

At the end, the boy finds out that the knowledge is inside of him all along.

1. What does the ending quote mean?
2. How can the boy already be wise?
3. Did the Grand Master help the boy become wiser?
4. Can children be wiser than adults?
5. What would an adult know that a child would not know?

The Grand Master is older then the boy and has more experience.

1. Does experience make a person wiser?
2. What kinds of experiences have you had that have made you more or less wise?
3. Has school and education been an experience that has given you knowledge?
4. Have you gained knowledge from the people in school and out of school?
5. Who do you learn from?
6. Who are your teachers?
7. Who do you teach?
8. Is the Grand Master a kind of teacher?