42 pages • 1-hour read
At Swim-Two-Birds
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Essay Topics
The protagonist of At Swim-Two-Birds remains anonymous throughout the novel. How does the student’s anonymity echo the novel’s themes?
In the novel, characters are brought into being by authors who then have control over them. What does the fate of the characters say about the nature of free will?
What does the Red Swan Hotel symbolize?
Irish folklore plays a key role in At Swim-Two-Birds. How do these ancient stories inform the contemporary concerns of the student?
Trellis’s trial is never completed. To what degree could the trial be considered a fair and objective process? Comment on whether the trial’s finishing early is an example of justice.
The Good Fairy and the Pooka (Fergus) compete for influence over Orlick. To what extent might they, respectively, represent good and evil?
The student’s uncle finishes the story by paying a sincere compliment to the student. How does the perceived sincerity of this compliment affect the student’s view of the world?
What role does alcohol play in the novel? How do different characters relate to alcohol in different ways?
How does At Swim-Two-Birds use structure and literary devices to explore its themes?
What do the characters of At Swim-Two-Birds think about the role of fiction and literature in the world? Are any of them proven right?
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