Bartleby Discussion Questions
I need textual evidence for each question. Each questions needs to be about a paragraph.
1. Identify the protagonist, the antagonist and define the kinds of conflict that make up the plot.
2. Characterize the staff at the Wall Street office before the arrival of Bartleby. How are they comic? Why does the lawyer not replace them?
3. Track the development of Bartleby's performance in his job at the office. Discuss any verifiable reasons for his behavior. Categorize (developing, flat, stock, etc.) and explain what kind of character he is.
4. How does the lawyer feel about Bartleby at the various stages of his story? In what ways are his feelings unclear/clear to him? How do you feel about Bartleby as the story develops?
5. What kind of many is the lawyer? Is there any reason to disbelieve what he says about Bartleby or about himself or his reactions? Categorize (developing, flat, stock, etc.) and explain what kind of character he is.
6. What is tragic (make sure you are using the literary definition of irony) about Bartleby's story? What is comic about it? How are these emotions complementary?
7. Explain the implications of the story's last two paragraphs (an epilogue of sorts).