Voorheesville Public Library

QUESTIONS

Miss Brodie is a complicated character. What does she want for her girls and why?
Miss Brodie has certain ideas about how girls should be educated. Are her ideas enlightened or totally misguided?
Is Miss Brodie idealistic, naïve or cynical?
Is this a feminist novel?

The following questions are from the HarperCollins reading guide:

How do Miss Lockhart and her science room contrast with Miss Brodie and her lessons? Why are the girls “enthralled” by Miss Lockhart’s science room? What ironies are involved in Miss Lockhart’s marriage to Gordon Lowther?
Why does Miss Brodie admire Mussolini and, later, Hitler? What parallels emerge between Miss Brodie’s “vision” and methods and those of the fascist dictators? How do Miss Brodie’s “politics” affect her life and her pupils’ lives?
How does Miss Brodie’s attitude toward “team spirit” both agree with her educational principles and undermine her relationship with her students?
How does Miss Brodie’s story of her ancestor, Willie Brodie, and his cheerful death “on a gibbet of his own devising” reflect on her own life and personality?
Shortly after her forced retirement, Miss Brodie writes to Sandy, questioning who might have betrayed her. Sandy replies, “If you did not betray us it is impossible that you could have been betrayed by us.” How does Miss Brodie betray her girls?

Compiled by Suzanne Fisher (fishers@uhls.lib.ny.us)


	The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark
	QUESTIONS Miss Brodie is a complicated character. What does she want for her girls and why? Miss Brodie has certain ideas about how girls should be educated. Are her ideas enlightened or totally misguided? Is Miss Brodie idealistic, naïve or cynical? Is this a feminist novel? The following questions are from the HarperCollins reading guide: How do Miss Lockhart and her science room contrast with Miss Brodie and her lessons? Why are the girls “enthralled” by Miss Lockhart’s science room? What ironies are involved in Miss Lockhart’s marriage to Gordon Lowther? Why does Miss Brodie admire Mussolini and, later, Hitler? What parallels emerge between Miss Brodie’s “vision” and methods and those of the fascist dictators? How do Miss Brodie’s “politics” affect her life and her pupils’ lives? How does Miss Brodie’s attitude toward “team spirit” both agree with her educational principles and undermine her relationship with her students? How does Miss Brodie’s story of her ancestor, Willie Brodie, and his cheerful death “on a gibbet of his own devising” reflect on her own life and personality? Shortly after her forced retirement, Miss Brodie writes to Sandy, questioning who might have betrayed her. Sandy replies, “If you did not betray us it is impossible that you could have been betrayed by us.” How does Miss Brodie betray her girls? Compiled by Suzanne Fisher (fishers@uhls.lib.ny.us)