The Da Vinci Code

Brown keeps his chapters extremely short and shifts point-of-view constantly, getting into the minds of all of his major—and a few minor—characters. What effect does this style have on the reading experience?

The Da Vinci Code is steeped in historical intrigue. In what ways does the novel’s explication of Renaissance art and secret societies add narrative substance to its contemporary plot?

One fundamental theme of the novel is the conflict between traditionalism and progressivism. What are some ways the novel expresses this theme? Who are some of the characters who personify the two extremes?

The novel features an undercurrent of feminism. As the only primary female character, how does Sophie Neveu embody a feminist ideal?

People believe what they want to believe. According to the world of The Da Vinci Code, how has this truism made it possible for the Church to conceal so many secrets over so many centuries, especially in an age where information can be circulated so quickly and easily?

What are some differences between paganism and Christianity? In what ways do their symbols and rituals overlap?

Bishop Aringarosa is the most extreme religious ideologue but also, in some ways, the most authentic practitioner of Jesus’s teachings. How does he exemplify both extremism and authenticity?

How do the characters of Silas and Leigh Teabing personify fundamentalism? How does that fundamentalism contribute to their ultimate downfalls?