“Invitations” Carol Shields
Small-group discussion questions. Choose
appropriate words and phrases for “ ”:
1.
Describe the main
character- use specific adjectives.
2.
What attracts her
about each of the invitations?
3.
Why does she
choose as she does?
4.
How does the
narrative point-of-view shift in the final four paragraphs of the story?
-contrived, obvious not supposed to be
real
funny details to signal the scenario is
not meant to be taken as realisitic
not ridiculous or to be dismissed as
silly, Carol Shields is in control, story is deep
Mansfield
Park theme about social behaviour,
social norms
“sitting in an armchair with a book and
feeling loneliness drink her drop by drop”
“how much easier… “ (28)
“seeing them as an opportunity to
possess… spun-out wastes of time” (28)
Wed invit., buffet, ridiculous guests
“we know you by reputation… meeting you
for years” (29) Who is it?
Friday gala
-each invitation grander than the
previous, imagining grander outfits
light funny ridiculous so far, read
along enjoying
story takes serious turn, pivots
“trembling not with excitement but with
fear” (30)
“felt…directly threatened… conspiring to
consume a portion of her life”
-stay in reading “warm quality of very
old gold”
SWITCH NARRATIVE POINT OF VIEW- talk
about point of view
cinematic image of woman at window,
camera
“twist of pain… nostalgia for their
childhood… bonded to the books”
Whose shame? Why?
Why does this woman want to stay home?
- bookish person, Carol Shields also a
bookish person
- interpreted as story about societal
norms
- I see it as a story about an
introverted woman
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