Bring on the tough stuff - there’s not just one right answer.
- The Mysteries of Udolpho has the reputation for being the most Gothic book around. But does it always stick to the Gothic formula?
- Let's address the elephant in the room: Udolpho, that crazy old castle full of secrets. It gets mentioned about 200 pages in, but the whole book gets named after it. Is Udolpho the main character?
- Emily doesn't seem too excited about owning lots of property, but no one else can stop talking about it. Why is owning property such a big deal for a woman in the sixteenth century (or even in the eighteenth century, when the book was written)? Does Emily start to care?
- Really, Emily doesn't seem to have too much control over her own life. What choices does she get to make?
- In what ways is Valancourt the typical hero of the story? In what ways is he an atypical hero?
- The title doesn't lie: there are plenty of mysteries throughout the book. As in, the reader doesn't get to know what the characters know. What's the effect of the secret-keeping approach to storytelling?
- Lots of new characters and subplots get introduced toward the end of the book. Why might Radcliffe want to throw you for a loop this late in the game?