Eco's fiction provides an unusual wealth of material for discussion. He is always aware of the reader, and makes it his business to provide plenty of ambiguities and puzzles so as to provoke thought and debate. Despite the formidable difficulties it presents, The Name of The Rose has remained popular since its publication. Its appeal seems likely to endure, at least in part because it gives readers so much to talk about. Whether one considers it as a detective novel, historical fiction, psychological narrative, or philosophy, it offers a well-nigh inexhaustible source of topics.

1. Do William's many failures diminish his stature? Is he truly a Great Detective, or just a parody of one?

2. Adso is represented as an old man recalling events of many years ago. Does he seem to be a reliable narrator? Does Eco ever give us cause to doubt Adso's memory or frankness...