62 pages • 2 hours read
Joyce Carol OatesWe Were the Mulvaneys
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1996A 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
“For a long time you admired us, then you thought Good!—that’s what they deserve.” How does this quote from the opening page of the novel foreshadow the events concerning the Mulvaney family? Analyze three pertinent examples.
The main events of the novel take place in the 1970s. To what extent does the time setting influence the plot? Research and analyze.
Judd is the narrator of the novel and one of its characters. How do his two “roles” differ? Supply examples.
Describe Marianne’s behavior immediately after the St. Valentine’s prom and analyze its causes.
How would you characterize Corinne and Michael’s decision to exile Marianne from the family? Write a journal entry of one of Marianne’s friends exploring his/her feelings on the matter.
Explore how the chapter title “Boys Will Be Boys!” relates to the plot and how the implications of this saying are presented in the novel.
Chart and analyze Michael’s behavior after Marianne’s rape, through the prism of his character’s past.
Why is Patrick not “normal”? How does this idea develop through the novel? Supply and analyze three examples.
How does Oates use symbolism and “realistic allegory” through the novel? Analyze examples.
Imagine what would happen if the Mulvaney family reacted differently after Marianne’s rape, and write a short story detailing the course of their lives.
Related Titles
By Joyce Carol Oates
