III. Questions and tasks:

Discuss the following:

1) Account for Rain’s decision to part with Mor. What did Rain mean saying,- “It’s all dry send running through the fingers.” Trace how the idea of making sand castles is developed throughout the whole book.

2) Describe the scene of Mor and rain speaking. Was Mor able to persuade Rain that she had been tricked by Nan at the end of the scene? Why do you suppose Mor left rain instead of staying with her to talk?

3) How did Mor take the news of Rain’s departure? How does Mor’s phrase “It was inevitable” go with Murdoch’s philosophy? What was Demoyte’s opinion of Mor? How did Rain visualize Mor judging by the sketch she had made of him?

4) What changes has the drama of Rain’s departure brought about in Mor?

5) What do you think of this so-called “happy ending” of the novel? Account for the importance and repetition of the phrase “It was all right now” and speak about its semantic importance.

IV. Questions for discussion:

1. What is Mor’s character? How are Iris Murdoch’s philosophical views shown through him?

2. What is Nan’s character?

3. What is Rain’s character?

4. Why is the book entitled “The Sandcastle”?

5. Demoyte as the author’s mouthpiece.

6. How is the English school system depicted in this novel?

7. What are some elements of realism in the novel?

8. Tim Burke and his role in the main conflict of the novel.

9. The problem of the love in “The Sandcastle”.

10. Elements of symbolism in the novel.

11. The problem of “fathers and sons”.

12. Family relations as depicted in “The Sandcastle” as reflection of Murdoch’s philosophical views.

13. The nature of the main conflict in the novel. Group personages according to the sides taken by them in the conflict.

14. What in your opinion is the most significant episode in the novel? Why? Retell it and comment it on.

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