The Hours

What specific literary devices does Cunningham use to flesh out the intertextuality between his book and Woolf’s? How do these devices function?

The Hours is rich with symbolism. Identify a symbol or motif not included in this guide and analyze its meaning and thematic relevance.

Explore the ways in which Cunningham uses imagery: How do images indirectly express the characters’ thoughts?

Richard and Virginia share similar traits and fates. Compare and contrast these two characters, especially considering their different worlds.

How do society’s changing attitudes about marginalized sexual orientations affect the fates of characters in their respective time periods?

When Mrs. Dalloway was published, many readers saw the titular character as an ungrateful woman unable to appreciate the privileges of her life. How might contemporary readers view a similar character, such as Laura Brown or Clarissa Vaughan, differently?

What is the meaning of the novel’s title? Compare and contrast the ways in which two characters cope with “the hours.”

Cunningham picks up Woolf’s feminist theme. How do society’s expectations of women affect Virginia’s, Laura’s, and Clarissa’s lives?