Characters
What are the names of 4 main characters of the story?
Isabel, Martin, Kaden, and Sebastian
Where does the central search for Sebastian take place?
In the woods/forest surrounding the family’s home.
What is the opening conflict of the story?
Sebastian’s escape/disappearance.
What perspective does the story take place in?
3rd person
Why is the story called Sagittarius?
Sebastian’s disability makes him resemble a centaur, the figure traditionally associated with the constellation Sagittarius.
Which parent is initially more accepting of Sebastian’s differences?
Isabel
Where does Martin eventually find Sebastian?
The meadow in the woods.
What is the climax of the story and how does it resolve the initial conflict?
The climax is when Martin finds Sebastian and brings him home. This resolves the conflict because Martin gains a greater understanding and acceptance of Sebastian.
Why does Hrbek reveal the internal thoughts of multiple members of Sebastian’s family?
It allows readers to see different reactions to Sebastian and understand how his differences affect the entire family.
What does meadow symbolize?
Love / Family Connections
How does Sebastian’s existence affect Kaden’s role within the family?
Kaden becomes increasingly overlooked as his parents devote more attention and concern to Sebastian.
Why did Sebastian escape into the Forrest?
To be free from domestic living/expectations, he was able to be himself in the forest.
How does the story’s structure reverse our expectations about Sebastian and Kaden?
Sebastian begins as the child perceived as helpless and endangered, but ultimately proves capable, while Kaden, the supposedly less vulnerable child, becomes endangered.
What happens to Isabel's sentence structure while searching for Sebastian?
It becomes short and frantic.
What does the car crash symbolize in relation to Kaden’s character?
The car crash symbolizes how Kaden’s emotional neglect develops into real, physical consequences.
What conflicting feelings does Martin experience toward Sebastian?
He loves and worries about Sebastian while also struggling to accept his differences and wishing for a more “normal” future for him.
How does Hrbek use the changing forest setting to reflect the story’s shift in tone?
The dark forest becomes illuminated by brighter stars, representing a shift from fear and uncertainty to hope and acceptance.
What discovery about Sebastian changes the meaning of the entire search?
Martin finds him moving/running freely, revealing that Sebastian is much more capable than everyone assumed.
Why might Hrbek give the reader access to everyone’s thoughts except Sebastian’s?
It shows how other people judge and define Sebastian, while Sebastian is simply being himself.
How do the contrasting symbols of the playpen and meadow support the argument that Sebastian’s differences are not his true limitation?
The playpen represents the limitations placed on Sebastian by others, while the meadow shows him thriving freely, suggesting that society’s expectations restrict him more than his differences do.