What can we possibly talk about for two hours?
You may be asking yourself, "how can a club that's been around for 12+ years still find things to talk about?". Fortunately for you, our club puts hours into finding questions and themes to discuss for each individual meeting. Here is an example to get you thinking:
TOPIC from October 2013: Northanger Abbey with some focus on fabric, clothing, the importance of symbolism:
1. We are told in the opening paragraph that Catherine Morland was not born to be a heroine, why do you think that is?
2. How does she compare to our other Austen heroines?
3. Is Catherine too trusting? How is to develop trust when this is her first time outside her own village? How does Bath society challenge that?
4. How does the text of The Mysteries of Udolpho get reflected in the book?
5. How does Tilney compare to other Austen heros?
6. What do you think the motivations are for John & Isabelle Thorpes actions?
7. Do you think what you're currently reading seeps into your daily life? affecting your perception?
8. Although NA was one of the last published. Some readers feel that it's obviously an early work without the narrative control Austen was soon to develop. Do you agree? Why or why not?
9. Do you feel you get to know Catherine's inner self well from the narrative? why or whynot?
10. Compare the events of information being unreliable back then to the ability of information obtained through media today?
11. How has(or has she?) Catherine changed and grown from the beginning of the novel to the end?
12. Catherine suspects General Tilney of wrongdoing, but do you think she deserved his ultimate wrongdoing of putting her out?
13. The climax of the book is debated, what do you think the climax is, when G. Tilney throws her out, or when Henry scolds her? or something else?
14. Do you think the narrative of this book is intrusive? How is the narrator- reader relationship compared to other Austen works?
15. Do you think the roles of transportation and it's limitations/luxuries play a role with the characters and attitudes towards them within this book?
TOPIC from October 2013: Northanger Abbey with some focus on fabric, clothing, the importance of symbolism:
1. We are told in the opening paragraph that Catherine Morland was not born to be a heroine, why do you think that is?
2. How does she compare to our other Austen heroines?
3. Is Catherine too trusting? How is to develop trust when this is her first time outside her own village? How does Bath society challenge that?
4. How does the text of The Mysteries of Udolpho get reflected in the book?
5. How does Tilney compare to other Austen heros?
6. What do you think the motivations are for John & Isabelle Thorpes actions?
7. Do you think what you're currently reading seeps into your daily life? affecting your perception?
8. Although NA was one of the last published. Some readers feel that it's obviously an early work without the narrative control Austen was soon to develop. Do you agree? Why or why not?
9. Do you feel you get to know Catherine's inner self well from the narrative? why or whynot?
10. Compare the events of information being unreliable back then to the ability of information obtained through media today?
11. How has(or has she?) Catherine changed and grown from the beginning of the novel to the end?
12. Catherine suspects General Tilney of wrongdoing, but do you think she deserved his ultimate wrongdoing of putting her out?
13. The climax of the book is debated, what do you think the climax is, when G. Tilney throws her out, or when Henry scolds her? or something else?
14. Do you think the narrative of this book is intrusive? How is the narrator- reader relationship compared to other Austen works?
15. Do you think the roles of transportation and it's limitations/luxuries play a role with the characters and attitudes towards them within this book?