Waverley

Waverley is a historical novel that deals with factual events of the 18th century. Research the historical context. How does Scott blend fact and fiction in the novel? How does his portrayal of the Jacobite uprising of 1745 compare to factual historical accounts?

Compare and contrast Rose and Flora. What does Edward’s initial choice of a love interest and final choice of a wife reveal about the novel? Do traditional notions of femininity and masculinity reveal anything about Flora, Rose, or Edward?

Explore the idea of justice and injustice in the text. How are these concepts analyzed and represented? How does Fergus’s execution or the Waverleys being charged with treason expose some of the weaknesses of legal justice in Britain at the time? How can legal justice be compared with social justice in the novel?

What role does romance (both the modern and contemporary definitions of the term) play in the novel? In what ways does it impact the plot, symbols, or themes?

Compare Waverley to Scott’s other “Waverley Novels.” How is his depiction of Scotland different or similar in Waverley? How do Scott’s settings impact the themes of his novels?

How are familial ties depicted in the novel? How do these family dynamics reflect or explore some of the text’s key themes and ideas?

Scott often incorporates local dialect into the dialogue of his poems and novels. How does this influence characterization or relate to the major themes or symbols of Waverley?

How is femininity depicted in the text? How do the characterization and experiences of Rose, Flora, Rachel, or others reflect contemporary conventions about womanhood or challenge such conventions?