Literature | Icebreaker Spot

As a literature enthusiast, I’m always looking for ways to incorporate my passion for books into my events. One fun way to do this is by using literature-themed “This or That” icebreaker questions. By asking questions related to different genres, authors, and storylines, you can create a sense of community among your guests and encourage them to share their opinions and experiences.

How to incorporate Literature themed This or That questions

To incorporate literature-themed “This or That” questions into your event, follow these steps:

Prepare a list of questions beforehand that are related to different genres, authors, and storylines. You can find inspiration from reading books, attending literary events, or browsing online forums and fan sites.
Print out the questions on cards or display them on a screen or a poster board. Encourage your guests to form small groups of 3-5 people and take turns asking each other the questions. You can also create a rotation system where each group moves on to the next question after a set amount of time (e.g., 2-3 minutes).
Make sure everyone has a chance to answer each question and listen actively to their responses. Encourage follow-up questions, comments, and discussions that build on the initial answers. You can also share your own insights and opinions about the books or authors to keep the conversation flowing.
After everyone has had a chance to answer all the questions, gather your guests in a larger group and ask them to share their favorite or most surprising answers. You can also use this opportunity to highlight any commonalities or connections that emerged during the activity.
Consider using some of the insights or stories that came up during the “This or That” icebreaker as a springboard for further conversations and activities throughout the day. For example, you could organize a book swap based on the genres or authors featured in the questions or create a trivia game based on literature trivia.

Ideas on different themes of questions

To keep your literature-themed icebreaker questions fresh and engaging, you can explore different themes and categories that are relevant to the world of books. Here are some ideas:

Genres: Ask questions related to popular genres like mystery, romance, science fiction, or fantasy (e.g., “Do you prefer reading mysteries or thrillers?” or “What is your favorite YA novel of all time?”).
Classics vs Modern: Ask questions that compare and contrast classic literature with contemporary works (e.g., “Which do you prefer: Jane Austen or J.K. Rowling?” or “Do you think modern adaptations of classics are effective in introducing them to new audiences?”).
Authors: Ask questions about popular authors, their writing styles, and their influences (e.g., “Who is your favorite author and why?” or “What do you think about the Brontë sisters’ works?”).
Characters: Ask questions related to the personalities, relationships, and quirks of book characters (e.g., “Which fictional character do you relate to the most?” or “Who is your favorite heroine in literature?”).
Settings: Ask questions about the locations, cultures, and time periods featured in books (e.g., “Do you prefer reading books set in real-world locations or imaginary worlds?” or “What is your favorite historical period to read about?”).

By incorporating these different themes of questions into your literature-themed icebreaker activity, you can keep your guests engaged and entertained while also fostering a sense of community and shared interest. So why not give it a try and see how it can enhance your next event!

My favorite Literature themed This or That questions

Jane Austen or Charlotte Bronte?
A Tale of Two Cities or Oliver Twist?
To Kill a Mockingbird or The Catcher in the Rye?
Hamlet or Macbeth?
Frankenstein or Dracula?
Pride and Prejudice or Sense and Sensibility?
Game of Thrones book series or TV series?
Little Women or Little Men?
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea or Around the World in 80 Days?
The Cat in the Hat or Green Eggs and Ham?
The Hunger Games or Divergent?
The Picture of Dorian Gray or The Importance of Being Earnest?
The Chronicles of Narnia or His Dark Materials?
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy or A Confederacy of Dunces?
The Hobbit or The Silmarillion?
The Time Machine or The Invisible Man?
The Wizard of Oz or Alice in Wonderland?
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer or Huckleberry Finn?
Slaughterhouse-Five or Breakfast of Champions?
The Lord of the Flies or The Catcher in the Rye?
Charlotte’s Web or Stuart Little?
Winnie the Pooh or Paddington Bear?
The Giving Tree or Where the Wild Things Are?
The Secret Garden or A Little Princess?
The Outsiders or That Was Then, This Is Now?
The Scarlet Letter or The Crucible?
Les Miserables or The Count of Monte Cristo?
The Diary of Anne Frank or Night?

About the author

Jon Zajac

Founder & Chief Icebreaker

I started Icebreaker Spot because I truly believe that strong connections are the foundation of successful teams. I wanted to create a platform that would make it easy for people to find and share icebreakers and team building activities, empowering them to build trust, foster collaboration, and ultimately, achieve greatness together.