Bring on the tough stuff - there’s not just one right answer.
- We call The Circle a dystopian novel, but world-famous author Margaret Atwood begs to differ. She prefers to call it a "satirical utopia" (source). What's your take? Which genre category seems best to you?
- The Circle has met with some criticism, and some of its detractors have suggested that the novel reveals just how little Dave Eggers knows about the internet. What do you think, Shmoopers? Are the Circle's creations (and their consequences) plausible, or are they way too out of this world? Are they supposed to be a little exaggerated?
- Some of the characters that appear in The Circle bear striking resemblances to actual tech giants whose names are well known in the real world today. Do any of The Circle's characters give you serious déjà vu? Is there a Mark Zuckerberg in the house? How about a Steve Jobs? A Sergey Brin?
- Among other things, The Circle asks some hard-hitting questions about the nature of morality and ethics. One of the novel's most prominent characters believes that human beings become their best selves when they know that they're being watched. What counterargument does the novel make against this claim?
- How many of the technologies that are on display throughout The Circle have real-world counterparts?
- Time for some dream casting. The Circle has been turned into a feature film with actors like Tom Hanks, Emma Watson, John Boyega, and Patton Oswalt filling some of its major roles. We love them all, but we're curious to know who you would cast if you could. How about it, Shmoopers? Who would you choose to star in The Circle, if it were up to you?