Wieland

In a different genre, a detective mystery for example, the characters might assume natural, rather than supernatural, explanations first. How might the story have progressed differently if the characters had started from a purely rational perspective? What about a straight horror novel?

Compare the theme of woman as victim of seduction in Wieland to its treatment in another book such as Pamela by Samuel Richardson, Tess of the d'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy, or The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne.

The Gothic genre has never gone entirely out of style, but it has staged something of a comeback in the late 20th and 21st centuries. Choose a modern example and show how it conforms to or diverges from the standard for the genre.

To what extent is Carwin morally responsible for the murders committed by Theodore? Could he have reasonably predicted such a violent outcome?

To what extent is (or isn’t) Clara a reliable narrator? Do you think she is completely candid about her feelings about Carwin?

Trace the use of the senses over the course of the story. How are the characters misled by reliance on one sense in isolation? How do their preexisting beliefs influence their interpretation of what they hear or see, and how might they have avoided their errors?

Clara’s name means “clear”, but Clara is a very confused character. What are some of her logical errors and mistaken assumptions? Where do those mistakes come from and what might she have done to avoid them?

Viewing Mettingen as a Utopian paradise and Carwin as the serpent (another trickster), trace the parallels with the Garden of Eden story in Genesis. In that light, is Clara better or worse off as a result of Carwin’s interference?