Questions
a) What is a bit ironic about Woolf's description of the dome at the British Museum?
b) What is so special about her caricature of Professor von X? Why was she doodling in the first place? What did she learn from this experience?
c)
1. Who or what is "the most discussed animal in the universe"? Who is doing the discussing and why? What do they say?
2. Why is Woolf's character intimidated by the student sitting next to her?
Bonus: (Why does the character consult the letter M?)
d) During the lunch episode, what did Woolf's character realize that was the first step towards abating her anger? Why is this important? How does this related to Professor von X?
e)
Woolf's character reflects: "Life for both sexes--and I looked at them, shouldering their way along the pavement--is arduous, difficult, a perpetual struggle. It calls for gigantic courage and strength. More than anything, perhaps, creatures of illusion as we are, it calls for confidence in oneself. Without self-confidence we are as babes in the cradle."
1. What "illusion" is Woolf's character referring to? What does this have to do with self-confidence? How is this theme further developed with the image of the looking-glass?How does this reflect the relationship between men and women? How does the character seem to feel about these issues?
2. Compare and contrast the way the theme of self-confidence is treated here and in "Street Haunting: A London Adventure".
f) In the purse episode, Woolf's main character had the occasion to reflect upon her past life as opposed to her present conditions.
1. What conclusion does she arrive at and how did she arrive at this conclusion? (Does the conclusion have anything to do with the title of the book and the cumbersome task or "burden" assigned to her? )
2. Why does isn't the vote as important to her? Do you agree?
g) There are two descriptions of the city of London in this chapter. Compare and contrast the two descriptions.
h)
1. At the beginning of this chapter, Woolf's character has evidently made little progress with the task she has been burdened with. Acknowledging this failing, she heads towards the British Museum in London under what presumption? How does the ending of this chapter reflect the character development in this chapter? What was her big realization towards the end?
2. During the lunch episode, Woolf's character reflects: "If he had written dispassionately about women, had used indisputable proofs to establish his argument and had shown no trace of wishing that the result should be one thing rather than another, one would not have been angry either." How is this relate to question one under this same heading?
i) The second description of London seems to connect with the theme of 'instincts' which appeared in "Street Haunting: A London Adventure".
1. A literary allusion is made: what is it to? How is it related to the image of the city?
2. Make the connection between the two pieces by Woolf. Compare and contrast the treatments of the theme of 'instincts'.
a) What is a bit ironic about Woolf's description of the dome at the British Museum?
b) What is so special about her caricature of Professor von X? Why was she doodling in the first place? What did she learn from this experience?
c)
1. Who or what is "the most discussed animal in the universe"? Who is doing the discussing and why? What do they say?
2. Why is Woolf's character intimidated by the student sitting next to her?
Bonus: (Why does the character consult the letter M?)
d) During the lunch episode, what did Woolf's character realize that was the first step towards abating her anger? Why is this important? How does this related to Professor von X?
e)
Woolf's character reflects: "Life for both sexes--and I looked at them, shouldering their way along the pavement--is arduous, difficult, a perpetual struggle. It calls for gigantic courage and strength. More than anything, perhaps, creatures of illusion as we are, it calls for confidence in oneself. Without self-confidence we are as babes in the cradle."
1. What "illusion" is Woolf's character referring to? What does this have to do with self-confidence? How is this theme further developed with the image of the looking-glass?How does this reflect the relationship between men and women? How does the character seem to feel about these issues?
2. Compare and contrast the way the theme of self-confidence is treated here and in "Street Haunting: A London Adventure".
f) In the purse episode, Woolf's main character had the occasion to reflect upon her past life as opposed to her present conditions.
1. What conclusion does she arrive at and how did she arrive at this conclusion? (Does the conclusion have anything to do with the title of the book and the cumbersome task or "burden" assigned to her? )
2. Why does isn't the vote as important to her? Do you agree?
g) There are two descriptions of the city of London in this chapter. Compare and contrast the two descriptions.
h)
1. At the beginning of this chapter, Woolf's character has evidently made little progress with the task she has been burdened with. Acknowledging this failing, she heads towards the British Museum in London under what presumption? How does the ending of this chapter reflect the character development in this chapter? What was her big realization towards the end?
2. During the lunch episode, Woolf's character reflects: "If he had written dispassionately about women, had used indisputable proofs to establish his argument and had shown no trace of wishing that the result should be one thing rather than another, one would not have been angry either." How is this relate to question one under this same heading?
i) The second description of London seems to connect with the theme of 'instincts' which appeared in "Street Haunting: A London Adventure".
1. A literary allusion is made: what is it to? How is it related to the image of the city?
2. Make the connection between the two pieces by Woolf. Compare and contrast the treatments of the theme of 'instincts'.