Research the "Black Sox" scandal that involved eight Chicago White Sox players charged with bribery in the 1919 World Series. Compare the events surrounding the scandal with Roy's experiences in the novel.

Research the mythological quest for the Holy Grail. What symbolic elements of this quest appear in the novel? What purpose do they serve?

How is the American love of baseball illustrated in the novel?

Focus on Malamud's development of Roy Hobbs as a character. Is he a static or a dynamic character? Does he gain any knowledge about himself and/or of his world by the end of the novel?