Comment on Dirk DeBaerre’s initial assertion that he and his family are better off riding the waves of history. Is his perspective practical in light of the Nazi occupation, or does it overlook the power of individual agency?

Analyze the tension between the novel’s rational and surrealistic elements. Do they function in opposition to one another, or do they represent complementary ways of navigating reality?

Compare the forms of resistance enacted by Francois Sauvin, who hides art and refuses collaboration, and Colonel Warlemont, who operates an escape line for Allied airmen. Does the novel suggest that one of these men is braver or nobler than the other? Why or why not?

Use the novel’s depiction of the historical bombing of the Gestapo headquarters in Brussels to comment on the ethics of war. How might you compare this to other similar operations, like the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which ostensibly ended the war?

Charlotte’s art shifts from painting to the practical craft of hat-making. What does this suggest about the value of functional art vis-à-vis high arts like painting and sculpture? Is it more or less valuable in society because of its function?

Analyze the distinct psychological and social motivations that drive Miss Hobert and Jan Everard. How do their respective portrayals resonate with contemporary manifestations of complicity in tyrannical regimes?

What does the microcosm of the novel’s titular apartment building suggest about the social psychology of communities in a state of war?

Comment on Austen’s decision to continue Masha’s narration after her death. How does the continued inclusion of her voice affect the stakes of the novel? What role does Masha play in the wake of her death?