Boule De Suif

Though generally omniscient, the narrator at times professes uncertainty about events or motivations—e.g., when describing the older nun’s reasons for speaking about the ends justifying the means. How do these ambiguous moments contribute to the story’s overall meaning?

Consider the title of “Boule de Suif.” How does it relate to the story’s themes and events? What is the significance of Boule de Suif’s plumpness?

What role does Cornudet play in the story? Why might Guy de Maupassant have included a character with ties to France’s republican movement? How does that inclusion contribute to the story’s social critique?

Analyze the role of gender in “Boule de Suif.” How are the female characters portrayed? How do their experiences relate to the story’s themes?

Examine the use of figurative language—similes, metaphors, etc.—in “Boule de Suif.” How does it underscore the story’s themes or characterization?

How would you describe the atmosphere of “Boule de Suif”? What stylistic choices contribute to that effect?

Historically, the Church was one of the three classes represented in the “Estates General,” a public assembly that the French monarch could summon for advice. Research the Church’s traditional role in France and discuss how this informs the depiction of the nuns in “Boule de Suif.”

Compare and contrast “Boule de Suif” with another story from Les Soirées de Médan. How does each story engage with the Franco-Prussian War? Are their attitudes toward the war similar?