54 pages • 1 hour read
S. J. WatsonBefore I Go to Sleep
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2011A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Essay Topics
Christine’s first-person narrative and journal entries give the reader direct access to her thoughts. What characteristics of her narrative make her a sympathetic or unsympathetic character?
Narrators suffering from memory loss are a popular literary device in psychological thrillers. How does Christine’s amnesia affect the reader’s experience of the novel? What impact does the protagonist’s memory loss have on her sense of identity?
Analyze the role of Christine’s journal in Before I Go to Sleep. Using examples from the text, explain why it becomes so important to her.
What is the significance of the locked metal box in Before I Go to Sleep? What does it tell us about Mike’s character?
Consider Dr. Nash’s role in the novel. Is he a hero or a villain? Does he genuinely have Christine’s interests at heart? Support your answer with examples from the text.
Analyze Christine’s feelings about the man she believes is her husband. How do they compare with her feelings for Dr. Nash? Explain why Christine is attracted to Dr. Nash, using illustrations from the text.
Discuss the concept of confabulation as it is presented in the novel. How does Watson link this neuropsychiatric process to memory retrieval as a whole?
How does Before I Go to Sleep exemplify the domestic noir genre? What literary elements does Watson use to build suspense and tension?
The novel’s narrative has a circular structure, beginning and ending on November 30. How does the nonchronological structure contribute to the reader’s experience?
The novel ends on an ambiguous note. Why does Watson choose to conclude the narrative in this way? Does the text provide evidence whether Christine’s amnesia is cured?
