48 pages 1 hour read

Kōbō Abe

The Woman in the Dunes

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1962

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Essay Topics

1.

Citing evidence from the text, explain how the assumptions the man makes in the sand pit reveal a limited perspective. What factors alter these assumptions?

2.

Discuss the man’s metaphor of a one-way ticket versus a round-trip ticket in the context of his character arc. How does his understanding of Stability and Movement evolve over the course of the story?

3.

In what ways would the novel’s underlying themes shift if the man had successfully escaped when he first got out of the sand pit? Cite specific examples from the text to support your argument.