QUESTIONS
- Who is telling the story? What is the narrator's relationship to Tyler? How does the narrator's distance from the minister influence your opinion of him?
- What are the sources of Tyler's misery?
- Why is he in denial about his daughter's problems?
- How has Tyler become alienated from his congregation? How does his alienation manifest itself? Is he at fault?
- Tyler tries to emulate the wisdom and courage of German minister and theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Why does his comparison of himself with Bonhoeffer make Tyler even more miserable? Why is he unable to live up to Bonhoeffer's example?
- At the beginning of the novel, we are not told the details of what happened to Tyler's wife. We learn only that something tragic happened, and that she is no longer around. How does the gradual unfolding of her story affect the way we feel about the couple?
- Abide with Me is set in the Cold War period. Eisenhower is president, and people are afraid of Soviet spies. How does the political and social background tie in with the central story?
- Why is Charlie's story central to the novel?
- Does Tyler seem naive for a clergyman?
- What sustains Tyler's faith in the face of his loss?
- Why are Tyler's parishioners unable or unwilling to give him emotional support?
- As the story develops, we learn that Tyler and Lauren's marriage was not perfect. What was the source of their problems?
- Why does Katherine lash out at adults? Why is she comfortable in the Meadows household? What does Katherine need?
- There seems to be an epidemic of dissatisfaction among the inhabitants of West Annet. Why are so many people unhappy? Is this a comment on the era or on small town life, or something else altogether?
- Why do people spend so much energy gossiping and complaining about Tyler's minor and rumored transgressions, while they ignore the real and serious failings and crimes of others?
- Charlie and Tyler seem like total opposites. Are they alike in any way?
- Many humble objects, such as the Alice in Wonderland lunchbox, the pot of rouge, the pink living room, seem to take on a life and an importance of their own. What is the significance of these small domestic details?
- Some of the characters behave in ways that make them unlikeable in the extreme. Does Strout manage to make us see past their frailties so that we sympathize or at least understand their suffering, or do they remain essentially unappealing?
Questions compiled by Suzanne Fisher (fishers@uhls.lib.ny.us)
December 5, 2007
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