The Princess Bride
Study Questions, Chapter 7
1. At this point in the story, all of our main characters are united in one purpose, but for
different reasons. What is the purpose, and what are the different reasons?
2. Why did it unnerve Inigo that Fezzik was scared of the Zoo of Death?
3. At which level did Fezzik and Inigo first have to fight for their lives, and what id they
fight?
4. How did Inigo get Fezzik to free them from the Arabian Garstini?
5. What was the next deadly obstacle, what made it deadly, and how did they get by it?
6. What was the last obstacle to overcome, at the entrance to the fifth level? How did they
get defeat it?
7. Why did Miracle Max lie about what Westley “said” about the reason he needed to
return from being sort of dead?
8. What convinced Max to take the case?
9. How long did Fezzik and Inigo think the Miracle Pill would last? How long did it actually
last?
10. Why did the Prince move up the time of the wedding? Be specific.
11. Why did Yellin, Prince Humperdinck’s Chief of All Enforcement, resign?
12. What started the Brute Squad screaming, sending everyone running in a panic?
13. In the narratives covering the battles with the snake and the bats, William Goldman
ignores an important grammar rule. What is it, and why do you think he did it?
The Princess Bride
Study Questions, Chapter 8
1. When Inigo kills the four guards with Count Rugen, and says to him, “Hello. My name is
Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die,” the Count does something truly
remarkable. What is it?
2. Buttercup is resigned to killing herself after her wedding to Humperdinck, as Westley
did not come for her. What is the reason Westley didn’t make it in time?
3. What is “To the Pain”?
4. What miraculous thing happens to Fezzik in this chapter?
5. What amazing thing did Buttercup do as they faced down the Brute Squad?
6. Does this story have a happy ending? Why or why not?
7. Name all the ways that The Princess Bride is like a traditional fairy tale.
8. Name all the ways that it is not like a traditional fairy tale.
9. Be prepared to discuss each character’s importance to the traditional fairy tale
structure, and also how each character is different from his or her fairy tale counterpart.
10. Give at least two specific (who is speaking, what is the situation) examples of hyperbole
and sarcasm from the book.
11. What are the two themes of this book?
12. List as many places as you can think of that illustrate the major theme of the book.
13. Do the events of Chapter 8 support or disprove the major theme? In what ways?
14. Does the author use direct or indirect characterization in this novel? Give examples to
support your answer.
15. Are any of the characters in The Princess Bride archetypes? If so, who, and how do they
fit the archetype?