McTeague: A Story of San Francisco

What role do Old Grannis and Miss Baker play in the novel? Does their story have a truly happy ending? How does it affect the novel’s message?

Discuss how Norris uses setting to convey his Naturalist messages. Consider San Francisco as well as Placer County. What is the significance of the fact that McTeague goes farther into the mountains the closer he is to his destiny? What does the rough landscape of Placer County represent?

Is there any goodness in the characters of McTeague? Where do we see them fighting with the forces that inspire their decisions?

What is the effect of the animalistic language Norris uses to describe his characters? How do comparisons between characters and animals reinforce the novel’s message? Is the effect similar to or different from the comparisons between characters and children?

How are characters affected by their heritage? How is one’s heritage a determining factor in one’s overpowering inner forces?

Discuss the use of symbols in McTeague. How do the symbols represent the characters and the things they strive for? How do the fates of these symbols reinforce the novel’s messages?

How is the final battle between Marcus and McTeague foreshadowed throughout the novel? How does this foreshadowing reinforce the message that one’s destiny is inescapable?

Is McTeague a sympathetic character? Why or why not? Are readers supposed to relate to McTeague, and how does whether we relate to him impact the novel’s lessons?