1. Does The Da Vinci Code opens doors to discussion about religion, as Dan Brown has said, or does it close them?

2. Is the depiction of women in this novel a tribute to their intelligence, or does it subtly uphold the patriarchal structures it purports to rail against?

3. In what ways is The Da Vinci Code similar to other popular novels in the thriller genre? In what ways does it depart from them?

4. How does The Da Vinci Code juxtapose ancient and modern worlds?

5. How do Langdon’s flashbacks to his teaching work in the States contribute to the narrative?