Nov. 30th! Meet in the pub at 5:30.

Hope you all have a Happy Thanksgiving!


Claddagh Irish Pub
7890 Main St N
Maple Grove
763-773-7400
www.claddaghirishpubs.com


Below are the discussion questions that we'll go over together. If you can, please bring a printed copy of the questions along with your thoughts, ONE question of your own, and a puppy.


1.
Hamartia: The Greek word for error or failure, used by Aristotle to designate the false step that leads the protagonist in a tragedy to his or her downfall. Hamartia has often been translated as ‘tragic flaw’, but this misleadingly confines the cause of the reversal of fortunes to some personal defect of character, whereas Aristotle's emphasis was rather upon the protagonist's action, which could be brought about by misjudgement, ignorance, or some other cause.

In your opinion, what was Edgar's 'tragic flaw'?

2.
David's writing is often poetic---instead of telling us how to feel, we see, hear, touch things to evoke feeling. Please find a passage in the book that did this best, for you.....how do you think this style of writing relates to Edgar being mute?

3.
At the end of the story Essay must make a choice. What do you think she decides, and why? Do you think all the dogs will abide by her decision?

4.
Why does Edgar give Tinder and Baboo to Henry?

5.
In regards to the dogs, why does Edgar say, 'no more commands', at the end of the novel?

6.
How does Almondine's way of seeing the world differ from the human characters in this story? Does Essay's perception (which we can only infer) differ from Almondine's? Assuming that both dogs are examples of what John Sawtelle dubbed canis posterus, "the next dogs", what specifically can they do that other dogs cannot?

7.
How would Edgar's story have been different if he had been born with a voice? How would Edgar himself have been different? Since Edgar can communicate perfectly well in sign most of the time, why should having a voice make any difference at all?


PS.....just kidding about the puppy.