56 pages 1 hour read

Anne Tyler

The Accidental Tourist

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1985

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Essay Topics

1.

Sarah and Muriel differ significantly in their approach to life and their relationship with Macon. However, they share some qualities that create a similar kind of dynamic between themselves and Macon. In what ways are Sarah and Muriel alike?

2.

What does Sarah mean when she describes Macon as “like something in a capsule” (136)? How does this relate to the traveler who describes Macon’s tour guides using the same imagery?

3.

In some ways, Muriel fits the “Manic Pixie Dream Girl” trope through how she interacts with and affects Macon. In what ways does she exemplify this trope, and in what ways does she subvert it?

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