Topic 1

Who is Phyllisia Cathy? What role does she play in the novel? Explain her personality. What are her positive and negative traits?

Topic 2

Who is Edith Jackson? What role does she play in the novel? What is her family life like? How does she treat Phyllisia?

Topic 3

Compare and contrast Ramona Cathy to Calvin Cathy. What is important to them? Do they share the exact same values? In what ways do they coincide and differ? Does anything change their ideas and perceptions?

Topic 4

Who is Ruby Cathy? What role does she play in the novel? Explain her progression in the story. How does Ruby change?

Topic 5

Who is Marian? Why does Marian become friends with Phyllisia? How does she treat Phyllisia? How does Phyllisia feel about this?

Topic 6

Explain the title The Friends? Is the title ironic? How? Which people are friends in the story?

Topic 7