Rules of Civility

Eve and Tinker are integral to the narrative surrounding Katey’s life. However, there are many other friends and acquaintances that pop up in Katey’s life. List some of these friends, and describe why they are important to Katey’s development.

Photography plays an important role in the novel. List the different instances where photography is used to flesh out something deeper. What does this photography say about its subjects? Do you agree?

Tinker tells Katey that she’d get along with his brother Hank. Who is Hank? Compare Hank and Tinker. How does Katey respond to Hank? Do they ever get along? If so, explain.

T.S. Eliot’s “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” is mentioned in both the preface and epilogue. Read the poem, and explain how Eliot’s poem is pivotal to Katey’s experience in the novel.

In the preface, the reader is introduced to two different pictures of Tinker, one from 1938 and one from 1939. Given the details of the narrative, describe Tinker in both photos. How have circumstances changed? How has he?

Katey is furious after discovering the truth about Tinker. Dicky, however, admits that he admires Tinker for his actions. Describe how Katey and Dicky view Tinker’s actions and where they vary in their assessments.

Who is Anne? How does she come to play an important role in the narrative? 

Compare Eve and Katey. How are they similar? How are they different? How do each approach Tinker’s advances?