The notion of value is prominent in the book. Morgan be so fascinated with Egyptology? Do his fortune and his collection of valuable objects bring him peace? Why do you think he invites Henry Ford to meet with him?ġ7. When Father returns to New Rochelle, the mirror “gave back the gaunt, bearded face of a derelict, a man who lacked a home.” What does this mean? What has changed since Father left home? How does he adapt to these changes?ġ6. How does the author make connections between Evelyn, The Little Girl, and Mameh? Why is Evelyn drawn to Tateh and The Little Girl?ġ5. When Evelyn Nesbit meets The Little Girl in the Pinafore, she is tied with rope to her father’s wrist so she won’t be stolen. What imagery does the author use in the first chapter to set the scene? What does it tell us about life in the early 1900s? What might the purpose be in revealing the murder of the architect Stanford White? Does it change our initial impression of American life during this time?ġ4.
While the characters represent different classes and races, they share much in common. How does the author use Harry Houdini to illuminate the complexity of this quest?ġ2. The quest for freedom and peace is a key theme of Ragtime. What are some of the innovations represented in the book? How does their presence affect the characters? Is the impact good or bad? Explain.ġ1. The story takes place during a time of technological progress and industrialization. Who does he include? Why might he have chosen to include these people? Does his portrayal of them match historical accounts?ġ0. Doctorow chooses to incorporate historical figures in a fictional context. Why do you think that Mother’s Younger Brother chose to help Coalhouse Walker, Jr.?ĩ. When was Ragtime written? What was happening at the time? How might readers then have related to the story? How do we relate to it today? Is it simply a historical narrative or does it reveal things about contemporary society?Ĩ. When and where does the story take place? Why might an author have chosen to write about this time period and these places and events?ħ. Why might the author have chosen not to use quotation marks? Does this affect the rhythm of the story?Ħ. Why did the author choose the title "Ragtime" for this novel? What is ragtime music? What are its origins and how does it relate to other genres of music? What does it reveal about the society in which it was created? What literary devices does the author use to reference or re-interpret ragtime?ĥ. Can we be certain of who it is, or does the point of view shift throughout the story? How does Doctorow’s method of narration relate to historical texts?Ĥ. Why might the author have chosen to name the characters as he did? Why do some of the characters have general names such as Mother’s Younger Brother while others have proper names like Coalhouse Walker, Jr.? Does this affect the way we relate to them?ģ. There were no immigrants.” Is this description accurate? What might this statement propose about the accuracy of historical accounts?Ģ. When the story opens, the narrator describes life in the early 1900s, noting that “There were no negroes.
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