Discuss the role of traditions and heredity in the world of the coal miners described in Germinal. Do you think that the characters act on free will, or are they just condemned to repeat the mistakes of the past generations? Do heredity and family traditions play a role in determining the outcome of your own actions?

How 'modern' is Germinal? Do you think that working conditions have evolved to the point of making the novel irrelevant? Make a list of the working condition that are still

The vocabulary of mining is quite specialized and at times, esoteric. Are there any other trade that has its own vocabulary? Make a list of specialized words used in a particular trade (other than mining).

Local unions, such as the Teamsters and the AFLCIO, have replaced the larger, more cumbersome global workers association such as the 'International.'...