Describe Seymour Levin, Gerald Gilley, Pauline, and their relationship in the first few
pages. What do you think they do? How do they look like? What kind of people do you think
they are?
How do Gilley and Pauline react when they first meet Levin in front of the station? What
do their reactions imply?
Where does Levin sit in the car? What do you think this seating arrangement suggests?
What do you think Levin
’s
first name implies? (Cf. “Seymour
shortens to Sy…”)
Comment on Levin
’s remark: “No picture, no sweetheart…No wallet.” What aspect of his character do you think is revealed here?
What does Levin decide to drink? (Note that Levin is described as
“formerly a drunkard” in the first line of this book.)
Comment on the line:
“Levin,
out of the corner of his eyes, watched the man watching him.” (p. 10) What do you think is going on here in the mind of the two
men?
Who do you think is Mrs. Beaty? What is Levin going to do with her?
Who is Professor Fairchild? What is The Element of Grammar?
Describe the two misfortunes Levin suffers after the supper starts. What is the common
target of these misfortunes and what do you think this whole episode suggests?
Do you know what PMLA is? What did Gilley do with it when he was a graduate student?
What does Gilley think of
“scholarly
papers” according to Pauline?
Why does he lose his interest in literature?
Who is Dr. Fabrikant?
What kind of person is Gilley according to Pauline? What do you think she thinks of him?
What do you think of Pauline? Why do you think she tells Levin about her past life? What
does he think of her? What do you think of the way he thinks of her?
What does Pauline say the life in Easchester is like?
What is Levin going to teach? Why do you think Levin
“had hoped to teach literature” (p. 23)? What do you think of Gilley?
Why does Gilley ask Levin about his beard? What can we know about these two characters
from this episode?
What kind of dream does Levin have at the end of this chapter? What do you think is its
significance?