The Ballad of the Sad Cafe

In “The Ballad of the Sad Café,” Miss Amelia, Cousin Lymon, and Marvin Macy form a love triangle. How does each member of the trio become a foil to the others?

Discuss the impact of the café’s opening and closing on the town in “The Ballad of the Sad Café.” How does this microcosm of life in the South portray this part of the US?

What elements of the Southern Gothic does McCullers use in her stories? Which tropes does she adopt and which does she subvert?

Close-read McCullers’s descriptive and figurative language. How do similes and metaphors function in her stories? How do they add to characterization, themes, and story structure?

How does McCullers portray children and the ways in which they understand the world?

Is love a positive or negative experience in these stories? How does McCullers complicate the dynamics around relationships based on love?

Examine how music is used as a symbol or motif in the stories. What does it represent and how is it used to further themes?

Both Madame Zilensky and John Ferris intentionally lie to make their lives feel either more exciting or complete to others. Compare and contrast their motivations and the ramifications of their lies.