Perestroika In Paris

To what extent do you consider Perestroika in Paras to be a fable? Draw on specific examples.

Choose either Rania, Delphine, or Madeleine and examine how Paras’s bond with them influences her journey and her growth.

Which animal character is most impacted by the journey in the novel? In what ways is their experience different from the other characters’ experiences?

Why do you think Smiley chooses to explore human life with an animal allegory? How does the animal-centric nature of the narrative inform its meaning and purpose?

Examine one of the more minor characters, such as Sid, Nancy, or Pierre, and analyze how Paras’s life impacts them and how they inform her journey from youth to maturity.

Write a newspaper article about Etienne after the police discover him with Paras at the racetrack. Consider the type of details and writing style that a journalist of the time and place would be likely to use.

Consider Etienne’s role as a human within the animal group to explain his function in the narrative.

Identify three symbols in the novel, extra to those given in this guide, and analyze how all six symbols support the novel’s allegorical purpose.