Year of Wonders
The plague was a vehicle for unleashing the hidden fears and suspicions that governed the lives of the village. Do you agree?
The true heroes in Year of Wonders are those who put others’ needs ahead of their own. Discuss.
Year of Wonders demonstrates the sinister side of religious fervour. Discuss.
In Year of Wonders it is the female characters who display the greatest strength and resilience. Do you agree?
More than anything else, it is Anna’s courage and determination that results in her eventual emancipation. Do you agree?
In Year of Wonders all characters who survive the plague emerge transformed. Discuss.
“Anna Frith, a woman who had faced more terrors than many warriors…” It is the women in the text that prove to be stronger in the face of adversity. To what extent do you agree?
While many characters in Year of Wonders display admirable qualities, Anna Frith is the true heroine of the novel. Do you agree?
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‘Brooks explores how ignorance, superstition and hysteria can be as fatal as any plague.’ Discuss.
Year of Wonders suggests that, in a time of crisis, it is more important than ever to hold on to traditional values. Discuss
“I wonder if you know how you have changed.” What has caused the changes in Anna?
Michael Mompellion’s powerful need for control is behind many of his actions. Do you agree?
This text demonstrates the difficulties of holding on to faith in times of adversity. Discuss
Year of Winders demonstrates the destructive power of love. Discuss.
Michael Mompellion tells Anna that he was ‘most shockingly wrong, in what I asked of this village’. Do you agree?
“This plague will make heroes of us all, whether we will or no.” How heroic are the people of Eyam?
The women in Year of Wonders are stronger than the men. Do you agree?
“... choices no longer had that same clear, bright edge to them.” Does Anna always choose wisely?
Elinor Mompellion rises above her past to become a more admirable person that her husband. Discuss
Year of Wonders shows just how little real power individuals have. Discuss
The plague destroys one world and replaces it with another. Discuss.
The plague has effect not only on the body but also on the mind. Discuss
Jon Milston, the sexton, says, ‘… these times, they do make monsters of us all’. Is this a fair assessment of the townsfolk of Eyam living under quarantine?
‘Year of Wonders explores how people are changed by catastrophe.’ Discuss.
‘It is the story of Anna’s courage and hope that engages the reader rather than the drama of the plague.’ Discuss.
“Fear was working a change in all of us.” What changes does fear bring about in Year of Wonders?
Year of Wonders reveals “how little we know ... of the people we live amongst.”
The person Michael Mompellion hurts most is himself. Discuss.
‘In what I asked of Elinor. In what I asked of myself. In what I asked of this village.’ Is Mompellion to blame for the tragic events that take place in Eyam during the plague year?
‘In Michael Mompellion, we see how a life ‘based upon a lie’ can destroy a man.’ Discuss.
“I wonder if you know how much you have changed.” In what ways does Anna change in Year of Wonders?
‘Anna’s struggle to find a sense of identity is the real triumph of the novel.’ Discuss.
How does the narrator, Anna Frith, affect your reading of the novel?
‘The horrors of life in the plague village are heightened for the reader by Anna’s blunt and honest narration.’ Do you agree?
‘In Year of Wonders it is the female characters that are the real heroes. The male characters are negative and destructive.’ Do you agree?
‘I have something very few people can claim: my freedom.’ Are any of the characters in Year of Wonders free?
‘This matter, like all matters…would be weighed on scales that could be raised or lowered only according to the heft of strict self-interest.’ Do all the characters in Year of Wonders put their own interests above all else?
‘Year of Wonders is a story of survival.’ Discuss this statement with direct reference to the text.
‘Brook’s novel is more a story of love and survival than a story about the plague’. Discuss this statement making specific reference to Year of Wonders.
Is the text the Year of Wonders primarily a study of grief and loss, or does it offer the reader an uplifting, optimistic message?
The women in ‘Year of Wonders’ are more resourceful and resilient than the men. Do you agree?
The attitudes and sensibility of the character Anna Frith are too modern which diminishes her credibility of the role she plays in the story. Do you agree?
"The plague will make heroes of us all..." and '...these times, hey do make monsters of us all". The plague brings out the very best and the very worst in people. Is this how you see the Year of Wonders?
"I have something very few people can claim: my freedom.' Are any of the characters in Year of wonders free?'
"The horrors of life in the plague village are heightened for the reader by Anna's blunt and honest narration" Do you agree?
"In year of Wonders it is the female characters who are the real heroes. The male characters are negative and destructive'. Do you agree?
“In what I asked Elinor. In what I asked myself. In what I asked of this village." Is Mompellion to blame for the tragic events that take place in Eyam during the plague year?
Is Year of Wonders primarily a study of grief and loss, or does it offer the reader an uplifting, optimistic message?
"This matter, like all matters...would be weighed on scales that could be raised or lowered only according to the heft of strict self-interest" Do all the characters in Year of Wonders put their own interest above all else?
"In Michael Mompellion, we see how a life 'based upon a lie' can destroy a man. Discuss.
"In Year of Wonders Anna frith is presented as “too good to be true". To what extend do you agree?
"The decision made by Mompellion to isolate the village in year of Wonders is motivated by his own selfish reasons". Discuss
"The male characters in Year of Wonders are all weak" Is this how you see the novel?
"Although Anna is presented as a strong women, she is still constrained by the expectations of her time" Discuss.
Year of Wonders shows just how little real power individuals have" discuss.
Despite her hope to accomplish a "worthy life's work", Anna's actions are sometimes misguided". Discuss
"Here we will be for one another" What effects does the plague have on the bonds within the community?
Year of Wonders reveals "how little we know... of people we live amongst" Discuss.
"Fear was working a change in all of us" What changes does fear bring about in Year of Wonders?
“the plague has affects not only on the body but also one's mind" Discuss.
"The plague destroys one world and replaces it with another" Discuss
"The plague attacks not only individuals but the very structure of society". Discuss.
“Geraldine Brooks' Year of Wonders is a bleak exploration of human suffering and cruelty." Discuss.
“While many characters in Year of Wonders display admirable qualities, Anna Frith is the true heroine of the novel". Do you agree?
"In Year of wonders it is the female characters who display the greatest strength and resilience' Do you agree?
"More than anything else, it is Anna's courage and determination that results in her eventual emancipation” Do you agree?
In Year of wonders all characters who survive the plague emerge transformed". Discuss.
"The true heroes in Year of Wonders are those who put others' need ahead of their own' Discuss.
Year of Wonders demonstrates the sinister side of religious fervour' Discuss.
Year of Wonders demonstrated that times of crisis bring out the darker side of human nature." Discuss.
Year of wonders suggests that nature and religion will always be opposing forces." Discuss.
"From death and destruction inevitably comes rebirth". Discuss in relation to Year of Wonders
Year of Wonders is a story of great courage in the face of extreme adversity." Discuss.
“it is the first-person narration of Anna Frith that makes Year of Wonders so emotionally engaging for readers" Do you agree?
"Anna's Frith's narration of events in the Year of Wonders conveys the idea that humanity is at mercy of the natural world'. Discuss.
"Year of Wonders Demonstrates that a time of crisis brings outs the darker side of human nature" Discuss.