Hamnet

Discuss O’Farrell’s presentation of Shakespeare in her novel. To what extent does she show him to be an important character?

How do literate and illiterate worlds interact in O’Farrell’s novel? To what extent does she show that illiteracy is a limitation?

What role do twins play in O’Farrell’s novel? You should refer to both literal and metaphorical examples of twinning in your answer.

What is the relationship between medicine and knowledge in O’Farrell’s novel? To what extent does she show that healing is intuitive rather than the result of scientific knowledge?

How does O’Farrell portray the town of Stratford? With close reference to the text in your answer, do you consider it to be a static, homogeneous place, or a variable, heterogeneous one?

What role do travel and exchange play Hamnet? How do different characters negotiate the concepts of near and far?

What significance does the supernatural play in O’Farrell’s novel? Referring to at least three examples in your answer, state how supernatural events enrich and complicate the narrative.

Discuss the novel’s treatment of gender. To what extent does O’Farrell’s text show that gender roles are flexible and circumstantial?