The Elegance of the Hedgehog

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of death by suicide, suicidal ideation, and death

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. The novel presents two narrators with different ages and social positions but similar philosophical outlooks. How did you respond to this dual narrative structure, and which character—Renée or Paloma—did you find yourself connecting with more deeply?

2. The Elegance of the Hedgehog weaves philosophical references throughout its narrative. How did these intellectual elements enhance or potentially detract from your enjoyment of the story? Did it remind you of other philosophical novels like Jostein Gaarder’s Sophie’s World, and if so, how did Barbery’s approach to integrating philosophy into fiction compare to these books?

3. Barbery dedicates significant attention to finding beauty in small, everyday moments—from the ritual of tea to the significance of camellias. How did this focus influence your experience of the novel, and has it affected how you perceive ordinary aspects of your own life?

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

1. Renée hides her intelligence and passion for literature because she believes wealthy people won’t accept a cultured concierge. Have you ever hidden aspects of yourself to conform to others’ expectations? What motivated that decision, and what was that experience like?

2. Paloma plans to die by suicide because she can’t bear the thought of growing up to live what she sees as a meaningless adult life. What wisdom about finding purpose would you share with Paloma, based on your own life experiences?

3. The friendship between Renée, Paloma, and Kakuro crosses boundaries of age, class, and culture. Reflect on a meaningful relationship in your life that transcended social barriers—what made that connection possible despite conventional divisions?

4. Both Renée and Paloma find moments of transcendence in art, literature, and simple pleasures like drinking tea. What small rituals or experiences in your life bring you similar feelings of meaning, joy, or connection?

5. Renée’s relationship with her sister Lisette profoundly shaped her life choices and her distrust of the wealthy. How has a relationship with a family member similarly influenced your worldview or the decisions you’ve made in life?

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

1. The Elegance of the Hedgehog explores the rigid French class system and the invisible boundaries between social groups. How do these social divisions compare to those in your own society, and have you observed similar assumptions based on occupation or social status?

2. Renée and Paloma both rebel against societal expectations through their secret intellectual lives. In what ways does contemporary society still constrain authentic self-expression based on factors like class, age, or gender? How have these constraints evolved since the novel’s publication?

3. Kakuro Ozu introduces elements of Japanese aesthetics and philosophy—such as the sliding doors and appreciation for simplicity—that contrast with Western perspectives. What might we learn from these alternative cultural approaches to beauty and meaning in our increasingly globalized world?

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

1. The hedgehog serves as a central metaphor in the novel. Paloma describes Renée: “on the outside, she’s covered in quills […] but on the inside, she has the same simple refinement as the hedgehog” (139). How does this metaphor develop throughout the story, and what does it reveal about the characters’ relationships with their public and private selves?

2. Camellias emerge as a symbol of hope and beauty in the novel, particularly in Jean Arthens’s recovery and Renée’s final moments. How does Barbery use this floral imagery to develop the theme that beauty in small things can be transformative?

3. The novel is structured through alternating viewpoints, journal entries, and first-person narration. How does this narrative technique contribute to your understanding of Renée’s and Paloma’s inner lives, and what effect does it create for readers?

4. Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina plays a crucial role in connecting characters and revealing their true selves. How does Barbery use this literary allusion, and what aspects of Tolstoy’s themes resonate most strongly with The Elegance of the Hedgehog?

5. Both protagonists experience moments of “time stopping” or transcendence—Renée with the summer rain and Paloma with the choir performance. Analyze how Barbery crafts these moments stylistically and what they suggest about her philosophical perspective on the sublime.

6. Renée’s death comes just as she begins to open herself to connection and joy. How does this tragic ending serve the novel’s larger themes about the value of human connection and choosing life? Is it ultimately hopeful or pessimistic?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Craft a short journal entry from Kakuro Ozu’s perspective, reflecting on his observations of life in the Parisian apartment building and his growing relationships with Renée and Paloma.

2. The novel ends with Paloma vowing to live meaningfully in honor of Renée. What might Paloma’s life look like five years after the events of the novel, considering both her philosophical outlook and her relationships?

3. The characters in the novel find profound meaning in specific works of art, literature, and film. Which creative work has similarly affected your worldview or understanding of life, and how does your experience parallel those of the characters?

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