35 pages • 1 hour read
The Human Stain
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Essay Topics
How does Roth’s choice to have an unreliable narrator connect with the main thematic concerns of the novel?
Discuss the role of self-invention and constructed identity in the characters of Coleman Silk, Faunia Farley, and another character of your choice.
Consider the narrative timeline of the novel. For example, events are described in Chapter 2, before Nathan the narrator learns about these events in Chapter 5. How would the novel change if the timeline were linear? How would the themes and their significance change, if at all?
Why are the references to President Clinton and Monica Lewinsky significant at different points in the narrative? Discuss one scene that includes these references to support your answer.
Discuss three narrators in the novel, besides Nathan Zuckerman, and the ways in which their narration sheds light on their actions and/or motivations.
Is the human stain, as expressed in the novel, always harmful? Discuss specific examples as to why or why not.
How does Athena College serve as a microcosm for American society?
Why does Coleman change his mind about ending the affair with Faunia? Cite specific examples from the text to support your answer.
Compare and contrast the role of secrets (Coleman is an African American man) and rumors (Faunia has an abortion) in the novel.
Compare and contrast the characters of Delphine Roux and Faunia Farley. What do their jobs and point-of-views reveal about them, and what might they leave out of the picture presented of each?
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By Philip Roth
