The Bourne Identity

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. How did you feel about the novel’s pacing and action? Did it balance well with the romance and personal interactions? Discuss what you feel the novel lacked in this area and what it did well.

2. Think of another action novel, like The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown or The Hunt for Red October by Tom Clancy. Discuss key moments where you felt the most suspense and tension. In what ways are the novels similar in how that suspense is built?

3. Discuss the nonlinear structure of the novel. How do you feel it added to the novel? In what ways did it cause confusion or detract from your understanding? Discuss how the novel would have been different if it were told from one perspective.

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Discuss the relationship between Bourne and Marie. How does their relationship reflect person relationships that you have in your life? What value do these relationships hold for you, and how does that relate to Bourne’s experience?

2. What was your emotional response to Carlos’s survival at the end of the novel? Discuss why you felt this way.

3. Although Bourne’s situation is unique, what universal qualities does he have that allow him to survive throughout the novel? What do you feel would be your strengths and weaknesses if you were in a dangerous situation like Bourne’s?

4. Discuss a time when you were forced to face a painful memory from the past. How did your experiences mirror Bourne’s? How did you overcome this moment? How did you feel having reconciled with what happened?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. Despite being written three decades ago, what themes related to politics and government in The Bourne Identity resonate with these areas today? Discuss the ways in which the world has both changed and remained the same from what Bourne experiences.

2. How does Ludlum explore femininity and societal expectations of women through Marie’s character? In what ways does she fulfill typical gender tropes, and how does she subvert them?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. Discuss the shifting third-person perspective that Ludlum uses throughout the novel. How does this structure build suspense and tension? Choose at least three scenes from the novel and discuss how the mood is impacted by the point of view.

2. Discuss the two key conflicts that Bourne faces: his internal struggle with his identity and his external struggle with Carlos. How do these conflicts develop his character? What theme is conveyed through his struggle?

3. Choose three of the names that Bourne goes by in the text, such as Jason Bourne, Delta, Cain, “the chameleon,” and David Webb. How do these names function symbolically? How do they lend insight into his character?

4. Would you consider Bourne a hero or an anti-hero? Why? Discuss specific actions and moments in the text that support your assertion.

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Consider the part of the text where Bourne first takes Marie from the conference and goes with her to the restaurant. How would this section have looked different from Marie’s point of view? Choose two to three pages and rewrite them from Marie’s perspective.

2. Imagine that the CIA has asked you to outline who Bourne is. Create a character web that includes his names and where they come from, his important skills and traits, and a timeline of his history as you learned it in the novel.