Next Wednesday, October 10th at 2pm in the Library we'll be discussing The Sun Also Rises at the club meeting.
Meet the group on the first floor of the Library!
Friday, October 5, 2007
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Chapter 14
1. Jake struggles with his demons at night. How does this represent the allusion of his name?
2. Discuss the significance of the following: “I had been having Brett for a friend. I had been getting something for nothing. That only delayed the presentation of the bill. The bill always came” (152). What does this show about Jake’s current system of values? How does this square with the count’s view on values? Remember this scene when you later must understand why Jake makes certain sacrifices for Brett Ashley and you have to consider what it costs him.
2. Discuss the significance of the following: “I had been having Brett for a friend. I had been getting something for nothing. That only delayed the presentation of the bill. The bill always came” (152). What does this show about Jake’s current system of values? How does this square with the count’s view on values? Remember this scene when you later must understand why Jake makes certain sacrifices for Brett Ashley and you have to consider what it costs him.
Chapter 13
1. Why do Bill and Jake get on so well with Harris, the Englishman they meet while fishing?
2. Jake and Bill have a great time being up in the mountain fishing. Whose absence permits them the freedom to enjoy this time together? (More than one answer—and you may need to read further to answer it! That is, who causes conflict later in the story.)
3. Montoya is the hotel owner and a fellow aficionado. What is an aficionado? Why is Jake accepted into group? Discuss the significance of the quote: “For one who had aficion, he could forgive anything. At once he forgave me all my friends.” This will be more meaningful by time you get to the end of the story. Consider this though: If you went to Mardi Gras in New Orleans, do you think you could get a hotel room at the Royal Senestra on Bourbon Street? That is the equivalent to what Jake did during the Fiesta de San Fermin in Pamplona.
4. When Jake describes to Bill how they will unload the bulls and put steers in with them to keep them calm, Bill comments, “Must be swell being a steer.” Who later makes almost the exact same statement and what happens after he makes it?
5. What war story does Brett ask Mike to relate and why? (page 139)
6. At the unloading Jake shows Brett how the bulls use their horns. What is Jake’s comparison? How is the comparison significant to the story?
7. The bulls are only dangerous when detached from the herd. How is this idea symbolic in the story? Who gets detached from the herd?
8. Why does Mike accuse Robert of being like a steer?
9. Discuss the significance of the following quotes from Mike directed at Robert or to Jake about Robert:
a. “What if Brett did sleep with you. She’s slept with lots of better people than you” (146).
b. “Don’t you know when you’re not wanted? I know when I’m not wanted” (146).
c. “Don’t go. Robert Cohn’s going to buy a drink” (147).
d. “No, listen Jake. Brett’s gone off with men. But they weren’t ever Jews, and they didn’t come and hang about afterward” (148).
10. Discuss Robert’s comparison of Brett to Circe, the enchantress from the Odyssey (page 148).
11. Jake tells Bill, “We’ve got to keep Mike from getting so tight.” What does “tight” mean?
2. Jake and Bill have a great time being up in the mountain fishing. Whose absence permits them the freedom to enjoy this time together? (More than one answer—and you may need to read further to answer it! That is, who causes conflict later in the story.)
3. Montoya is the hotel owner and a fellow aficionado. What is an aficionado? Why is Jake accepted into group? Discuss the significance of the quote: “For one who had aficion, he could forgive anything. At once he forgave me all my friends.” This will be more meaningful by time you get to the end of the story. Consider this though: If you went to Mardi Gras in New Orleans, do you think you could get a hotel room at the Royal Senestra on Bourbon Street? That is the equivalent to what Jake did during the Fiesta de San Fermin in Pamplona.
4. When Jake describes to Bill how they will unload the bulls and put steers in with them to keep them calm, Bill comments, “Must be swell being a steer.” Who later makes almost the exact same statement and what happens after he makes it?
5. What war story does Brett ask Mike to relate and why? (page 139)
6. At the unloading Jake shows Brett how the bulls use their horns. What is Jake’s comparison? How is the comparison significant to the story?
7. The bulls are only dangerous when detached from the herd. How is this idea symbolic in the story? Who gets detached from the herd?
8. Why does Mike accuse Robert of being like a steer?
9. Discuss the significance of the following quotes from Mike directed at Robert or to Jake about Robert:
a. “What if Brett did sleep with you. She’s slept with lots of better people than you” (146).
b. “Don’t you know when you’re not wanted? I know when I’m not wanted” (146).
c. “Don’t go. Robert Cohn’s going to buy a drink” (147).
d. “No, listen Jake. Brett’s gone off with men. But they weren’t ever Jews, and they didn’t come and hang about afterward” (148).
10. Discuss Robert’s comparison of Brett to Circe, the enchantress from the Odyssey (page 148).
11. Jake tells Bill, “We’ve got to keep Mike from getting so tight.” What does “tight” mean?
Chapter 12
1. How does Bill respond when Jake tells him to “go to hell.”
2. As Bill and Jake banter, Bill tells him to say something pitiful. His answer: “Robert Cohn.” What does this answer indicate?
3. What does Bill and Jake’s banter about he expatriate movement reveal about Jake?
4. When Bill slips and mentions impotency, Jake narrates, “I was afraid he thought he had hurt me with the crack about being impotent. I wanted to start him up again.” What does this show about Jake and Bill’s relationship? (Also, the joke they refer to about the tricycle accident and how a tricycle is similar to an airplane, how Jake was hurt, refers to a joke about a man losing his genitals in a tricycle accident.)
5. Discuss Bill’s statement: You’re a hell of a good guy and I’m fonder of you than anybody on earth. I couldn’t tell you that in New York. It’d mean I was a faggot.” Remember the homophobic scene with Jake in the bar when Brett enters?
6. When Bill discovers Jake has brought only two bottles of wine, he accuses Jake of being in the pay of the Anti-Saloon league. “The Saloon must go, and I will take it with me” (128). What historical matter does this exchange present?
7. Jake reads a romantic novel (page 125). How does this compare to Cohn’s earlier romantic readings?
2. As Bill and Jake banter, Bill tells him to say something pitiful. His answer: “Robert Cohn.” What does this answer indicate?
3. What does Bill and Jake’s banter about he expatriate movement reveal about Jake?
4. When Bill slips and mentions impotency, Jake narrates, “I was afraid he thought he had hurt me with the crack about being impotent. I wanted to start him up again.” What does this show about Jake and Bill’s relationship? (Also, the joke they refer to about the tricycle accident and how a tricycle is similar to an airplane, how Jake was hurt, refers to a joke about a man losing his genitals in a tricycle accident.)
5. Discuss Bill’s statement: You’re a hell of a good guy and I’m fonder of you than anybody on earth. I couldn’t tell you that in New York. It’d mean I was a faggot.” Remember the homophobic scene with Jake in the bar when Brett enters?
6. When Bill discovers Jake has brought only two bottles of wine, he accuses Jake of being in the pay of the Anti-Saloon league. “The Saloon must go, and I will take it with me” (128). What historical matter does this exchange present?
7. Jake reads a romantic novel (page 125). How does this compare to Cohn’s earlier romantic readings?
Chapter 11
1. What do Bill and Jake share with the Basques as they ride the bus up to Burgette to fish? What do they negotiate as part of the price of their room?
Chapter 10
1. From Biarritz to Pamplona and throughout the rest of the trip, note how Jake keeps track of the prices he pays. This is important and reflects the theme of values and of the prices we pay, literal and figurative.
2. What does it indicate when Jake describes himself and Bill enjoying the scenery while Robert is asleep in the back of the car?
3. Discuss the conflict that arises between Bill and Robert. What is the anti-Semitic element of the conflict? Why does Jake now have conflict with Robert?
4. Discuss the significance of Jake’s prayers in the cathedral.
5. Resolve the paradox of Bill’s remarks about Robert: “The funny thing is he’s nice, too. I like him. But he’s just so damn awful” (107) and the later comment: “And as far as this Robert Cohn,” Bill said, “he makes me sick, and he can go to hell, and I’m damn glad he’s staying here so we won’t have him fishing with us.”
2. What does it indicate when Jake describes himself and Bill enjoying the scenery while Robert is asleep in the back of the car?
3. Discuss the conflict that arises between Bill and Robert. What is the anti-Semitic element of the conflict? Why does Jake now have conflict with Robert?
4. Discuss the significance of Jake’s prayers in the cathedral.
5. Resolve the paradox of Bill’s remarks about Robert: “The funny thing is he’s nice, too. I like him. But he’s just so damn awful” (107) and the later comment: “And as far as this Robert Cohn,” Bill said, “he makes me sick, and he can go to hell, and I’m damn glad he’s staying here so we won’t have him fishing with us.”
Chapter 9
1. How do Brett and Mike become included in the trip to Spain?
2. Why is Brett concerned about Robert Cohn also going? What has happened between her and Robert in the time lapse between chapter 8 and 9.
3. What does it symbolize when Jake finds out about the relations between Brett and Robert and he as narrator tells us, “We walked along and turned a corner.”
4. Why do Brett and Mike not come right away to Spain with Bill and Jake, who meet Robert at Biarritz.
2. Why is Brett concerned about Robert Cohn also going? What has happened between her and Robert in the time lapse between chapter 8 and 9.
3. What does it symbolize when Jake finds out about the relations between Brett and Robert and he as narrator tells us, “We walked along and turned a corner.”
4. Why do Brett and Mike not come right away to Spain with Bill and Jake, who meet Robert at Biarritz.
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