- Does this resemble other books you have read? Any written prior to 1858? Afterwards? Any Scottish novels or tales? (e. g. James Hogg) Do you see a relationship between Phantases and the tradition of Gothic and supernatural fiction?
- Can you see ways in which MacDonald was influenced by the Romantic movement?
- Do you see parallels between Phantases and Butler's Erewhon? Morris's News from Nowhere?
- Can you see some elements which would prompt a Freudian, Jungian or other form of psychological reading of this work? (anima figure 44-45)
- Is Phantases an allegory, and if so, of what?
- What is the narrator's dream? In what time period does the fantastic world exist? (Arthurian, 25)
- What are some other characteristics of this world and its preoccupations? (life/death)
- What attitudes toward sexuality are conveyed by this romance?
- If you didn't know from outside sources, how could you tell that this book was written during the 19th century?
- What is the purpose of the Cosimo interlude? Does the story suggest that perfect love may kill the lover? Do you see parallels with Tennyson's "The Lady of Shallott"?
- Do you agree with C. S. Lewis that this tale is myth rather than literature? What may he have meant by this claim?
- What function is served by the songs? (MacDonald was also a poet)