1. John Dowell describes Nancy Rufford as a young and exuberant Catholic school girl. Is Nancy as pious and righteous as her religious upbringing might suggest?

2. If Leonora has been so patient and accommodating of Captain Edward Ashburnham's actions, why is Leonora unable to forgive Edward for giving money to the woman accused of murdering a baby?

3. Who is Nancy's father? Edward White or Cornell Rufford?

4. Part 4, Chapter 4 seems to imply that the Ashburnhams have been lying to Nancy about her family. Is it right for the Ashburnhams to keep Nancy Rufford's family history a secret?

5. Leonora accepts many of Captain Edward Ashburnham's affairs; however, Leonora does not accept Edward's affair with Florence Dowell. Why does Leonora especially disapprove of Edward's affair with Florence Dowell?

6. Of what significance is the discovery that John Hurlbird's heart disease was a misdiagnosis?

7. Do you agree with John Dowell when he says that Captain Edward Ashburnham does not feel remorse?

8. Given Captain Edward Ashburnham's adulterous history, why does Leonora Ashburnham send Edward and Nancy to a concert together?

9. Why does John Dowell dislike Rodney Bayham?

10. In Part 4, Chapter 5, John Dowell claims that he is jealous of Leonora Ashburnham. What reason does John have for being jealous of Leonora?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare and contrast The Good Soldier's main characters: John Dowell, Florence Dowell, Leonora Ashburnham, and Nancy Rufford. Of these characters, who is the most morally righteous? Who is the most enlightened? Determine the identity of the novel's hero, or whether the novel has a hero at all. In your assessment consider the following questions: does Ford seem to sympathize with any of these characters more than the others? What qualities make one of these characters "better" than the others? Who, if anyone, does Ford believe one should model his behavior after? If Ford indeed elevates one character over all the others, what does his preference imply about the overall message of the novel?

Essay Topic 2

In the novel, John makes it his business to asses and judge each character around him and to place blame where blame is due. But what about John? Is John blameless or is John somewhat responsible for "the saddest story" he has ever heard? In what ways has John been responsible for the events of his own tragedy?