Background of the author
Class Discussion Questions:
1. Look at the epigraph for the story. What is the significance of "after the fact" and "experience" in relation to how this story is told? What kind of narrator is telling this story? Find examples in the text that represent the characteristics of the narrator.
2. Look for subjective descriptions of nature and other, more general subjective statements. Find some quotes that show the attitude of the narrator toward the sea and the waves, and his predicament. Can his interpretation be described as an accurate one?
3. What is the nature of the conflict in "The Open Boat"? Remember, a conflict exists between two things. How is this conflict expressed in the story? Find some quotes in the story that demonstrate the nature of this conflict.
4. What philosophical question is repeated (in various forms) in the narrative of “The Open Boat”? Who is asking this question? (pp. 996, 999, 1001)
5. What is the significance of the last sentence of the story? What is the connection between the last line and the epigraph?
