Voorheesville Public Library

QUESTIONS

How does the Housekeeper communicate with the Professor? How do they adapt to each others habits?
How would you describe the relationship between the Housekeeper and the Professor? Do they seem at ease with each other?
What is Root’s role in their relationship?
Why is the Professor protective of Root and conscientious about his care? How do the two of them relate?
There are major events in the characters’ lives that are not explained. For instance, what happened to the Housekeeper’s marriage? What role does the sister-in-law play in the Professor’s life? Why does Ogawa leave so many things unexplained?
Besides mathematics, what ties the Professor, the Housekeeper and Root together?
Why is it important to the Housekeeper that she understand the Professor’s math problems?
What risks do the characters take?
How do the characters show emotion? How do they show their feelings for each other?
Why are the Housekeeper and Root careful to keep the truth about Enatsu from the Professor? Why don’t they tell him the truth?
Why does the Professor’s sister-in-law change her mind after he gives her the paper with Euler’s formula written on it?
What insights does the novel give you into Japanese life and traditions?
How do the mathematical formulas and concepts the professor teaches Root and the Housekeeper relate to their lives? How do they relate to life in general?

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


	The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa
	QUESTIONS How does the Housekeeper communicate with the Professor? How do they adapt to each others habits? How would you describe the relationship between the Housekeeper and the Professor? Do they seem at ease with each other? What is Root’s role in their relationship? Why is the Professor protective of Root and conscientious about his care? How do the two of them relate? There are major events in the characters’ lives that are not explained. For instance, what happened to the Housekeeper’s marriage? What role does the sister-in-law play in the Professor’s life? Why does Ogawa leave so many things unexplained? Besides mathematics, what ties the Professor, the Housekeeper and Root together? Why is it important to the Housekeeper that she understand the Professor’s math problems? What risks do the characters take? How do the characters show emotion? How do they show their feelings for each other? Why are the Housekeeper and Root careful to keep the truth about Enatsu from the Professor? Why don’t they tell him the truth? Why does the Professor’s sister-in-law change her mind after he gives her the paper with Euler’s formula written on it? What insights does the novel give you into Japanese life and traditions? How do the mathematical formulas and concepts the professor teaches Root and the Housekeeper relate to their lives? How do they relate to life in general? Questions compiled by Suzanne Fisher (fishers@uhls.lib.ny.us)