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49 pages 1 hour read

The Remains of the Day

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1989

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Essay Topics

1.

Stevens drives to the southwest of England. In what sense is his journey a metaphorical one?

2.

In what way does William give Stevens a glimpse into his future?

3.

Lord Darlington is manipulated by the fascist Nazis and is then publicly disgraced. Why is Stevens so invested in insisting that Lord Darlington was innocent? Does he truly believe this?

4.

Reginald Cardinal tries to make Stevens see that Lord Darlington is being manipulated. To what extent is his attempt doomed from the outset?

5.

Stevens and Miss Kenton love each other but never bring themselves to admit it aloud. In what ways do they reveal their affection?

6.

What does Darlington Hall represent to different people?

7.

Stevens is the narrator of the novel. In what ways do the subjects he chooses to avoid help to reveal his character?

8.

Stevens firmly believes that his duty in life is to strive toward a certain idea of dignity. Not everyone shares this view. How is Stevens’s idea of dignity challenged in the novel, and is he able to defend his beliefs?

9.

How does the portrayal of the British class system suggest that Stevens is a relic of a bygone era?

10.

The meeting between Miss Kenton ends with them parting, once and for all. To what extent is the outcome of the meeting tragic? Can it be considered optimistic in any way?

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