V.

Stencil is a key figure in V., particularly as his research and interpretations inform the chapters set in the past. How does Stencil’s personality shape these chapters?

Characters stitch together an understanding of reality based on the many subjective interpretations of the world around them. Are there any objective truths in the novel?

The pursuit of V. constitutes a large part of the novel’s narrative. What meaning—if any—does this search have?

Profane divides the world into the animate and the inanimate, often including himself in the latter category. What does this dichotomy reveal about the prevalence of alienation in the novel?

Women in V. are presented through an inherently male lens. In what ways does the novel emphasize patriarchal structures?

Many of the characters in the novel’s present feel like they are living at the end of history. Do their memories and their nostalgia prevent them from focusing on their present lives? Why or why not?

Explore the symbolic meanings of Profane’s job as an alligator hunter in the sewers of New York. What do these creatures represent?

Profane and other characters are often compared to yo-yos. What is the symbolic meaning of this comparison? How does it evolve over the course of the novel?