The English Patient | Topics for Discussion & Projects

The English Patient Key Questions

Set against the larger context of a world war, The English Patient focuses closely on the lives and characters of only three men and a woman. A fruitful topic for discussion is how these two emphases work together, how the circumstances of war help define these four individuals and how their actions and interaction help convey a sense of the scope and the human cost of war. The chapter "In Situ" is an example of how well Ondaatje is able to present both at once. An account of Kip's early training as a sapper under the guidance of Lord Suffolk, an eccentric English aristocrat, the chapter describes the intricate nature of land mines and the dangers involved in defusing them. It also focuses on the human aspect. Lord Suffolk tells Kip that bomb disposal depends on character, on understanding your opponent: "You must consider the character of your enemy.