50 pages 1 hour read

John Lanchester

The Wall

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2019

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Essay Topics

1.

Is the ending of the Wall a hopeful, happy one? What does the narrative imply will happen after that moment of storytelling? What message does the ending send about the kinds of stories writers or ordinary people tell about climate change?

2.

The Wall is a physical structure, but its presence creates ripple effects for the people who live on and within the Wall. What are these changes, and how do they impact Defenders, elites, and Others? Does the novel imply that these changes, especially negative ones, are worth the cost? Use examples from the text to support your argument.

3.

What ethical issues does the decision to build and defend the Wall raise? Support your discussion by examining the ethical arguments characters make related to the Wall and the United Kingdom’s stance toward Others and Help.