Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. How did Tutuola’s unique use of English, which translates Yoruba cadences and syntax, shape your reading experience? Was it challenging, musical, or immersive for you?

2. The Drinkard’s journey shares features with epic quests from many cultures. In what ways does the story resemble or depart from more familiar quest narratives, such as the fairy tales collected by the Brothers Grimm?

3. Which of the many episodes in the book was the most memorable for you, and why did that particular scene or creature stand out so vividly?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. The Drinkard’s entire quest is motivated by his desire for palm-wine. Have you ever pursued a goal with that kind of singular focus, and how did your motivations compare to his?

2. The story of the complete gentleman, who is revealed to be a Skull, is a powerful cautionary tale about deceptive appearances. Can you think of a time when a first impression you had of someone or something turned out to be completely wrong?

3. What role do sanctuaries like the Faithful-Mother’s white tree play in our own lives? Do you have a place, person, or activity that is a refuge during difficult times?

4. What do you believe holds the Drinkard and his wife together through their dangerous journey? What does their partnership suggest about loyalty and resilience in the face of chaos?

5. The Invisible Pawn is a magical helper who causes more chaos than good. Have you ever experienced a solution that ended up making a problem worse?

6. Do you think the Drinkard is only searching for his tapster, or is his quest for something more? What kinds of modern-day quests do you see people undertaking in their own lives?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. The guide discusses the controversy around Tutuola’s language when the book was published. What does this debate reveal about the cultural pressures a nation faces when defining its identity on a global stage?

2. How does the novel’s blending of juju with modern items like telephones and airplanes reflect the cultural experience of colonialism? What does it suggest about how a society incorporates and makes sense of foreign influences?

3. The famine is ultimately resolved but by a communal sacrifice to Heaven rather than by the Drinkard’s magic. What might this ending say about the value of collective ritual and cosmic balance versus individual power?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. How does making a lazy, selfish drinkard the hero of this story challenge the conventions of a traditional epic quest? Did you find him to be a sympathetic character despite his flaws?

2. What is the function of the constant shapeshifting in the novel? How does the motif of supernatural transformation affect the story’s sense of reality and the characters’ ability to survive?

3. How did you find the book’s episodic structure, which mirrors Yoruba oral storytelling? Did the series of distinct adventures create a compelling narrative flow for you?

4. The Drinkard’s wife often displays a quiet wisdom and practicality. In what ways does her insight serve as a necessary contrast to her husband’s reliance on juju?

5. Why do you think it is so important that the dead and the living cannot coexist? How does the tapster’s refusal to return home reinforce the novel’s theme of an uncrossable divide?

6. The guide contrasts Tutuola’s “mock heroic” tone with the more “moralistic” work of his predecessor, D. O. Fágúnwà. Where did you find moments of humor or absurdity in the Drinkard’s journey, and how did they shape your interpretation of his quest?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. If you were given the magical egg, what is the first thing you would wish for? How would you protect it from the carelessness that led to its destruction in the story?

2. Imagine you are creating a modern “survival guide” for the world of this novel. Which three creatures or locations would you warn travelers about most urgently, and what advice would you give?

3. The book’s chapter titles often sound like fables. Choose one of the Drinkard’s misadventures and give it a new, fable-like title of your own. What moral would your title convey?