Topic 1

What is post-modernism? Who were some of the major influences on post-modern writing in the 1950s and 1960s? How is the writing in this book reflective of post-modern aesthetic? Find examples of post-modernism in categories other than literature (art, music, theater, etc.). Who are some of the other authors that John Barth admires? What societal influences impacted post-modernism and its popularity?

Topic 2

Who is Ambrose Mensch? How did Ambrose get his name? Describe the way Ambrose’s mother approached breastfeeding her son. Where was Ambrose’s father when he was an infant? Who are some of the other family members in Ambrose’s life? Explain the relationship that Ambrose has with his older brother. Who is Peggy Robbins? Who is Magda? The author says that the “funhouse is for lovers” but for Ambrose, it is what? What does Ambrose find when he walks along the riverbanks...