Topic 1

How does O’Connor’s writing style add to the authenticity of the stories’ setting?

Topic 2

What do all of O’Connor’s main characters have in common?

Topic 3

Compare Thomas’s mother from “The Comforts of Home” to Julian’s mother from “Everything That Rises Must Converge.” How do these two women differ? What are their motivations?

Topic 4

Describe Asbury from “The Enduring Chill” and Sheppard from “The Lame Shall Enter First.” What traits do these men share?

Topic 5

Describe the setting of O’Connor’s stories. How does the setting affect the personalities and motivations of the characters?

Topic 6

Do any of the main characters in O’Connor’s stories show genuine concern for other people than themselves? Was this natural, or did they change? If they changed, what made them change?