5. Alison Bechdel's Fun Home is a graphic memoir that is filled with literary allusions. What book by James Joyce is alluded to with the title of Chapter 1: "Old Father, Old Artificer"?

Short Essay Questions

1. What symbolism does the author relate to the obelisk in Chapter 2?

2. What allusions are made to the works of F. Scott Fitgerald in Chapter 3?

3. What literary allusion is tied to lilacs in Chapter 4?

4. How does the author compare herself with her father in Chapter 1?

5. What mythological allusions does the author make in Chapter 1?

6. From what narrative perspective is Fun Home related? Why do you think the author chose this perspective?

7. How and why does the author allude to It's a Wonderful Life in Chapter 1?

8. How does the author describe her "coming out" to her parents in Chapter 3?

9. What does the title of Chapter 3, "That Old Catastrophe" allude to? Why is this significant?

10. How does the author describe her father's love of gardening in Chapter 4?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the events surrounding Bruce Bechdel's trial in the narrative. What was Bruce Bechdel charged with? By whom was he charged? What was the outcome of the trial? How did the trial affect the author and her family?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the themes of shame and tragedy in Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic. What are the tragic elements of the narrative? How is shame symbolized in the memoir? Would you say that the ending of the book is tragic? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Describe and discuss the genre and format of Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic. Is the book fiction or nonfiction? Under what sub-genres is the book categorized? What is noteworthy about the book's genre and format?

(see the answer keys)

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