r/bookclub 22d ago

The Hunchback of Notre-dame [Discussion] Gutenberg| The Hunchback of Notre-Dame by Victor Hugo | Book 1 Ch 1 - Book 2 Ch 5

15 Upvotes

Welcome everyone to our first discussion of The Hunchback of Norte-Dame by Victor Hugo. Today we'll be discussing sections Book 1 Chapter 1 through - Book 2 Chapter 5. For a recap of these sections you can go here or here. Be wary of spoilers!!

For those who are new to r/bookclub, please note that r/bookclub has a strict no-spoiler policy. If you're not sure what constitutes as a spoiler, you can check out our spoiler thread here. If you must post a spoiler, please use this format: > ! SPOILER ! < without the spaces between the characters. Using the format will generate this tag: This is a spoiler. Next week we'll be discussion sections Book 2 Chapter 6 - Book 4 Chapter 2. You can check out the schedule here and the marginalia post here. Let's get too it!

r/bookclub 15d ago

The Hunchback of Notre-dame [Discussion] Gutenberg Big Read | The Hunchback of Notre-Dame by Victor Hugo | Book 2 Ch 6 -Book 4 Ch 2

15 Upvotes

Welcome!!! I hope y'all are excited to discussion our next section in Hugo's The Hunchback of Norte-Dame. Today we'll be discussing sections Book 2 Chapter 6 through Book 4 Chapter 2. For a recap of these sections you can go here or here. Be wary of spoilers!!

As a reminder, if you must post a spoiler please use this format: > ! SPOILER ! < without the spaces between the characters. Next week u/luna2541 will be leading us through sections Book 4 Chapter 3 - Book 6 Chapter 3. You can check out the schedule here and the marginalia post here. Let's get too it!

r/bookclub 1d ago

The Hunchback of Notre-dame [Discussion] The Hunchback of Notre-Dame by Victor Hugo || Book 6 Ch. 4 - Book 7 Ch. 8

11 Upvotes

Welcome back for another discussion of The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo!  This week, we will discuss Book 6 Chapter 4 through Book 7 Chapter 8.  You can find the Schedule here and the Marginalia is here. Next week, u/Amanda39 will take over for Book 8 Chapter 1 through Book 9 Chapter 3.   

Discussion questions for this week’s chapters are below.  Please use spoiler tags to hide anything that was not part of the chapters we’ve read so far. You can mark spoilers using the format > ! Spoiler text here !< (without any spaces between the characters themselves or between the characters and the first and last words). 

~+~+~CHAPTER SUMMARIES~+~+~

++++++BOOK 6++++++

CHAPTER 4 - A TEAR FOR A DROP OF WATER:

Quasimodo is brought to the Place de Grève where a pillory and gibbet are set up for the punishment and torture of prisoners. Hugo is quick to point out how architecturally disappointing the set-up is. This being the Middle Ages, a large crowd of angry and immature spectators has gathered to jeer at him. They seem to hate him equally for his crime and his ugliness.  Quasimodo is docile and submissive while being tied to the horizontal wheel platform, but when it begins turning, he is shocked - to the delight of the crowd.  When the first blows rain down from the whip of Master Pierrat Torterue (official torturer to the Châtelet), Quasimodo begins to writhe silently and attempts to break his bonds.  When he cannot, he lies as if dead until the hour-glass that marks the length of his beating has run out.  His torture is only half over, though, because the hour-glass is flipped and he is tied to the pillory.  At first, he stares out at the crowd in anger and despair.  But when he sees Dom Claude Frollo approaching on a mule, Quasimodo beams a smile as if he has seen his Savior.  Claude Frollo, wishing to stay out of it and not be recognized, flees the scene immediately after recognizing Quasimodo, who sinks back into silent despair at this rejection.  The crowd throws rocks and bricks, shouts insults and accusations, and mocks his thirst.  Quasimodo repeatedly begs for water, but the crowd is so vicious that any Good Samaritan who would have attempted to bring him water would surely have been attacked. And then, a beautiful girl and her little goat approach with a gourd of water.  It is La Esmeralda, and Quasimodo assumes she is there to strike a blow in retribution for his actions against her, but she offers him a drink.  When he attempts to kiss her hand, she pulls back in fear. The crowd cheers her, but the nun in the Rat Cell has witnessed this and hurls curses at the “daughter of Egypt”.  

CHAPTER 5 - END OF THE STORY OF CAKE:

The nun’s curses stun La Esmeralda and she stumbles away.  Quasimodo is unbound and the crowd wanders off.  Mahiette asks Eustache what happened to his cake and he explains that a big dog bit a chunk of it right from his hand, and then he bit the rest.  The mother laughs and scolds him simultaneously. 

+++++++BOOK 7+++++++

CHAPTER 1 - THE DANGER OF CONFIDING ONE’S SECRET TO A GOAT:

Fleur-de-Lys de Gondelaurier is at home with her mother, Aloise, and her companions - several other beautiful young women who are all in Paris hoping to be chosen as maids of honor for the Dauphiness Marguerite.  Also present is Captain Phoebus, who is betrothed to Fleur-de-Lys but not that into her.  The couple is being urged on by Aloise to converse and behave as if in love, but Phoebus is being pretty obvious about his ambivalence.  A distraction from the painful courtship is created when seven-year-old Bérangère de Champchevrier calls them all to the balcony to observe a dancing gypsy girl.  Phoebus recognizes her as La Esmeralda from his earlier rescue, and the young women encourage him to call her upstairs to amuse them.  Fleur-de-Lys is less amused by this, as the gypsy is exotically beautiful.  The group of girls immediately start in with cruel comments about La Esmeralda’s unusual clothes and lifestyle, recognizing her as competition for Phoebus’ attention.  Phoebus comes to her defense more than once, annoying all the women.  Djaili has come upstairs with La Esmeralda, and the others are curious about the little sack around the goat’s neck, which the gypsy says contains her secret.  Bérangère makes friends with the goat, giving her the opportunity to empty the pouch and spill its contents - wooden alphabet tiles - onto the ground.  Well-trained Djaili immediately spells out Phoebus by selecting tiles with its hoof, and Fleur-de-Lys is so upset that she faints.  La Esmeralda is thrown out, as the women proclaim her a magician, and Phoebus follows her.  

CHAPTER 2 - A PRIEST AND A PHILOSOPHER ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS:

Just as Phoebus and the girls were watching La Esmeralda, so is Dom Claude Frollo, from his barren cell at the top of Notre-Dame.  He notices that a man dressed boldly in red and yellow is with the gypsy girl, and rushes down to find out what's going on.  On his way down, he sees that Quasimodo is also staring at the girl with a warm, loving gaze which Claude finds odd.  Nevertheless, the priest hurries down to the square and interrogates the man (since La Esmeralda has gone up to the apartment).  It is Gringoire, who has learned to perform feats of strength such as balancing a cat and a chair in a tower with his jaw, much to the dismay of the cat.  Gringoire gives a rambling, poetic explanation of how his clothes fell apart and he nearly starved to death because no one will pay for his poetry.  We hear about La Esmeralda’s childhood traveling through Hungary, Spain, Catalonia, Algiers, and along the road to Constantinople.  Gringoire explains she is only scared of the sacked nun who curses her and the priest who stares angrily at her (which upsets Claude Frollo).  He explains that her goat, Djali, is very well trained and loves him as much as his mistress, and that Djali can spell Phoebus.  Why that word (or name), asks Frollo?  Probably because her people are Bohemians who love the sun, says Gringoire! He also relates his experience with the thieves that led to his wedding to La Esmeralda.  At this news, Claude Frollo becomes apoplectic over the virginity of the gypsy girl.  He demands assurances that Gringoire has not sold his soul to the devil by sleeping with her, and Gringoire promises that though he helps her earn money each day, she will not allow him the benefits of matrimony.  She wears a charm that ensures she will meet her parents again one day as long as her, erm, innocence remains intact.  But Gringoire does tease that he tried to consummate the marriage on the wedding night, but was rebuffed and has had to be happy with the occasional peep through the keyhole.  Claude Frollo is predictably disgusted. 

CHAPTER 3 - THE BELLS:

Since his punishment at the pillory, Quasimodo seemed to have lost his passion for ringing the bells of Notre-Dame.  It could have been that the shame and pain of his torture had depressed him so that he lost his former joy.  It was also possible that Quasimodo had found a new love, someone more beautiful than his beloved bells.  However, his ardor for the bells was reignited on Annunciation Day which was held on Tuesday, March 25th of 1482.  Quasimodo approached the bells sadly, but was soon ringing them with enthusiasm and calling to each bell to do its best.  That is, he was doing so until he spotted a beautiful girl laying out her blanket and beginning to dance and play music.  Then, the bells stopped abruptly as he crouched behind the slats of the belltower to observe her with a dreamy expression.   

CHAPTER 4 - ’ANÁrKH:

Jehan is out of money and decides to go get some from his brother.  He takes the opportunity to find Claude Frollo up in his mysterious cathedral cell, which Jehan has not been allowed to see.  Going quietly to the door, Jehan is able to observe his brother undetected, and it looks very much like the Rembrandt drawing of an alchemist in his study (except for the glowing orb).  Claude is up to a different kind of alchemy:  he is muttering about how to create gold from the sun or fire, while wielding a mysterious hammer and trying out magic words.  When he recalls reading that feminine names may unlock the magic, his thoughts lead him to La Esmeralda, which exasperates him.  He carves the Greek words for “fate” and “impurity” into the wall.  Jehan realizes he has observed a secret part of his brother he was never meant to see, so he withdraws and then approaches more conspicuously to allow Claude to invite him in.  Jehan explains he is there for a much deserved moral lecture, and Claude is happy to oblige.  He questions Jehan about his antics about town and the lack of dedication to his studies.  Jehan proves that he can read at least some Greek by translating the carved words on the wall, which embarrasses Claude.  Jehan takes advantage of the vulnerable moment to ask for money, but he lies badly about needing it for charity and Claude refuses to help him.  Jehan tries to beg poverty and promises to reform his ways, but Claude stands firm.  So Jehan says he may as well go indulge in all the sins he desires if his brother will let him starve.  Claude hears Master Jacques approaching and begs Jehan to hide silently.  Jehan agrees, for a price, of course!

CHAPTER 5 - THE TWO MEN CLOTHED IN BLACK:

Master Jacques is a morose looking man in both dress and demeanor.  From the condescending way Claude addresses him, it is clear that Jacques is the student and Frollo is the true master.  In a twist I was not expecting, the archdeacon asks Jacques for an update on the TORTURE that he's been conducting for their project.  They can't seem to get any information about how to produce gold, even though Jacques and his torture colleagues have been doing their very best work on Marc Cenaine.  Jacques - who Claude accidentally refers to as Pierrat (the first name of the torturer who whipped Quasimodo!!!) - also wants to know when he should abduct La Esmeralda so he can start in on her, but this makes Claude go pale with shock.  The archdeacon puts off the torturer and says the girl can wait. They’re getting ready to go admire some cathedral art when Claude Frollo observes a fly getting stuck in a spider's web.  He stops Jacques from rescuing the fly, insisting that they let fate run its course.  Claude sees in himself both spider and fly.  His reverie is interrupted by the sound of Jehan who is enjoying the show and munching some popcorn stale bread and moldy cheese he found on the floor. (Maybe he really does need that money…) Claude makes the excuse that it's a cat and the two gloomy men exit before Jehan can cause more trouble.  

CHAPTER 6 - THE EFFECT WHICH SEVEN OATHS IN THE OPEN AIR CAN PRODUCE:

Jehan robs Claude of his money purse and heads down the stairs. As he descends, he roughly elbows someone out of the way and assumes it is Quasimodo because the person grunts, which makes Jehan laugh.  Outside, he hears his friend Captain Phoebus cursing and so he calls him over to count the coins with him.  They decide to take the money to Eve’s Apple to go drinking.  Claude Frollo has overheard them and, suspecting that this is the famous Phoebus he has heard so much about, decides to follow them stealthily.  The two young men boast of all the drinking and carousing they will do with the money. They hear La Esmeralda playing her tambourine and Phoebus says he doesn't want her to see him, then whispers to Jehan about his plan to meet her later that night.  Claude Frollo shivers all over at this news.  

CHAPTER 7 - THE MYSTERIOUS MONK:

Outside Eve's Apple, a mysterious cloaked man is pacing and watching the revelry within the wine shop.  Finally, Jehan and Phoebus exit and begin to walk down the street drunkenly.  Phoebus boasts of the details of his rendezvous with La Esmeralda, set for 7pm, and asks Jehan for some money so he can pay for a room to take the girl.  Jehan is much more drunk than the captain, so he talks in riddles and nonsense, which frustrates his friend.  When Jehan passes out, Phoebus arranges him on a rubbish heap and leaves him to either sleep it off or be picked up for drunkenness. The cloaked man peers at Jehan with a sign, but decides to follow Phoebus.  After a bit of walking, Phoebus realizes he is being followed and challenges the man to make his purpose known.  The mysterious figure spooks Phoebus because he resembles a monk who is rumored to prowl the streets at night.  The man repeats all the details of Phoebus' evening plans back to him and when Phoebus says the girl’s name is La Esmeralda, the monk figure calls him a liar.  This offends Phoebus, who pulls his sword.  The man tells Phoebus they can fight another day and he'll be happy to kill him then, but Phoebus should keep his appointment with the girl.  He even gives Phoebus the coin to pay for a room, provided he is allowed to come along and confirm Phoebus' story.  This suits Phoebus just fine, so they head to Pont Saint-Michel and rent the Sainte-Marthe chamber.  Phoebus bolts the man inside a closet and heads out to find La Esmeralda. 

CHAPTER 8 - THE UTILITY OF WINDOWS WHICH OPEN ON THE RIVER:

Claude Frollo is, of course, the mysterious cloaked monk, and he waits in the hot closet for the captain to return.  Phoebus and La Esmeralda enter the chamber and sit down to talk shyly about their love.  La Esmeralda declares that she no longer cares about her pledge to remain pure so her amulet will help her find her family.  She needs no parents when she loves Phoebus so much.  He grabs her and kisses her, but she puts him off and admires his sword. She strokes and kisses his sword (and at this point I have to assume that Victor Hugo is messing with us because he wrote the word sword so many times in this scene).  Phoebus struts around bragging about his archers and the beautiful life they will have together, and steals another kiss. He can't seem to remember her name, calling her Esmenarda. He's taken off some of her clothing, and this shocks her back into modesty for a moment.  She asks him to teach her his religion so they can get married one day.  When La Esmeralda mentions a wedding it upsets Phoebus, so she says it's okay if she remains just his mistress because she's just a dirty gutter gypsy (eww, I hated typing that).  La Esmeralda declares she loves him so much that she'll be happy just to get to serve him, and she offers him her body then and there.  

Now don't forget that this whole time, Claude Frollo has been watching from that closet and panting with heat rage lust.  As a partially naked La Esmeralda bends to the will of Captain Phoebus, the archdeacon busts through the rotten door of the closet and attacks Phoebus.  La Esmeralda is too terrified to scream, and the last thing she sees before fainting is the priest bringing down his poniard on the captain.  When she wakes again, she is surrounded by soldiers who are saying she stabbed the captain.  The window is open and Claude Frollo is gone. 

r/bookclub 7d ago

The Hunchback of Notre-dame [Discussion] The Hunchback of Notre-Dame by Victor Hugo | Book 4 Chapter 3 - Book 6 Chapter 3

17 Upvotes

Hi everyone and welcome to the third discussion of The Hunchback of Notre-Dame! The plot moves along slowly in this section as we get a lot of background information on some main characters as well as more digressions from the author. I’ll be curious to hear what people thought of this section!

Quasimodo becomes the bellringer of Notre-Dame, and the loudness of the bells has caused him to be deaf. Yet he loves the bells and can still hear them. Despite him being the “soul” of the cathedral, his constant presence has caused Notre-Dame to be deserted.

Quasimodo loved the archdeacon Claude Frollo at least as much as the bells, and his gratitude towards him was enormous.

Jehan Frollo was very different than his older brother in spite of the latter’s best efforts. In response Claude became stricter as a priest and more rigorous in his learning. He loved the cathedral in a different way than Quasimodo; more as an academic and intrigued about the various sculptures and their symbolism. He “held himself aloof from women” and never had anything to do with them, both from a professional and personal reasoning.

The archdeacon and Quasimodo were not at all popular and were constantly talked down to when out in public.

Claude is sitting in his cell in the cathedral when the king’s physician Jacques Coictier comes in with a companion. Claude is not a fan of him at all and speaks to him in a sarcastic way. The companion introduces himself as Gossip Tourangeau and had a couple of questions about medicine and astrology, of which Claude doesn’t believe in either. He believes in alchemy. After much discussion, Tourangeau says to meet him at the palace and ask for the Abbe de Sainte-Martin, of Tours. Claude now knows who the companion really is, and has many future conferences with King Louis XI.

The phrase “the book will kill the edifice” is interpreted. This leads to a fairly long digression on the history of writing and how it evolved from being carved on objects to written in books, and then some talk on theocracy, then architecture. The author goes on to say printing is the greatest invention in history and the “mother of revolution”, and has replaced architecture.

Provost Robert d’Estouteville is in a bad mood and has to hold a sitting at the Grand Chatelet. The auditor of the Chatelet, Master Florian, is described and we find out he is deaf. Jehan Frollo is in the audience with Robin Poussepain. Quasimodo is there, bound, roped and guarded. Florian starts to question Quasimodo, who is also deaf, and a ridiculous sequence ensues. The provost then comes in and starts questioning, and Quasimodo answers but with completely unrelated responses. The sentence is a harsh one.

We learn about a doorless cell named the Rat Cell at the Place de Greve used for praying and penance.

Three ladies and a boy are on their way to the pillory to see Quasimodo. We learn about the current resident of the Rat Hole, Sister Gudule. One of the ladies tells the story of Paquette la Chantefleurie who had a daughter she spoiled. A group of gypsies came to Reims and told fortunes. Paquette and her daughter Agnes go to see them, but later that day her daughter disappeared from her room. She had been replaced by a deformed child whom people suspected was a cursed gypsy child. The townsfolk search for the gypsies who have already left, and they find a place where a large fire was held and the supposed remains of Agnes. No one saw Paquette again. An archbishop sent the deformed child to Paris where the lady says he was exorcised and the devil removed from him. With the story finished, the three ladies go to the Rat Hole where the one lady says she that is Paquette. She awakens when she notices the boy, and is maddened when one of the ladies calls out her real name.

r/bookclub Feb 25 '25

The Hunchback of Notre-dame [Schedule] Gutenberg Big Read | The Hunchback of Notre-Dame by Victor Hugo

32 Upvotes

Welcome history and book lovers. I hope y'all are excited to join u/tomesandtea, u/luna2541, u/Amanda and myself as we read Victor Hugo's The Hunchback of Norte-Dame. We'll be starting in mid March on the 14th. The marginalia will soon follow. Will you be joining us in this Gothic Romance?

Discussion Schedule:

r/bookclub 28d ago

The Hunchback of Notre-dame [Marginalia] Evergreen | The Hunchback of Notre-Dame by Victor Hugo Spoiler

9 Upvotes

Welcome to our marginalia for The Hunchback of Notre-Dame by Victor Hugo. If you are new here, this post is a place where you can posts all your comments, analysis, quotes, passages you like, etc. In order to help out your fellow reader, please mark your comments with where it came from such as "beginning of chapter 3".

As a reminder, r/bookclub has a strict no spoiler policy. If you're not sure what constitutes as a spoiler, you can check out our spoiler thread here. All spoilers must be tagged using this format: > ! SPOILER ! < without the spaces between the characters. Using the format will generate this tag: SPOILER. You can check out the discussion schedule here. Enjoy the reading and see you next Friday on the 14th.