One Day

How does Nicholls employ flashback sequences to deepen characterization and provide insight into the characters’ past experiences? How and when do flashback sequences deepen the sense of romance and affection between Dexter and Emma?

What role does the cultural and historical context of the late 20th and early 21st centuries play in shaping the characters’ identities and experiences? Consider technology, politics, fame through media, and societal expectations for men and women.

Reflect on the ending of the novel. How does the resolution resonate with the broader themes explored throughout the story? Do you think it likely that Dexter will return to Arthur’s seat, or is this a full-circle moment he needed just once? Why or why not?

How are the characters’ expectations let down throughout the novel, and in what ways do these disappointments contribute to, or inhibit, their growth? At what point does each character seem to have largely reached their expectations, and when are these moments out of synch for the various characters? When are they in unison?

Discuss the role of morality in the novel. How does the author present a more nuanced and complex portrayal of characters, and is this truer to life? Then, consider what the characters might appear as without this nuance—what do multi-faceted depictions offer within the genre of contemporary romance?

How does One Day adhere to or deviate from the conventions of the contemporary novel? What might the novel look like if Emma and Dexter had gotten together earlier, facing these same conflicts as a couple? Do you think they would have remained together? Why or why not?

Analyze the use of symbolism in One Day. What symbolic elements recur throughout the novel, and how do they contribute to the overall themes?

Consider the role of social class in the novel. How do socioeconomic factors influence the characters’ choices and relationships, and in what ways, if any, do they hinder Dexter and Emma’s relationship?