Alice Munro Questions and Answers
Alice Munro
Summary and Character Analysis of "An Ounce of Cure" by Alice Munro
"An Ounce of Cure" by Alice Munro is a coming-of-age story about a teenage girl who, heartbroken over a failed romance, gets drunk while babysitting, leading to a series of embarrassing events. The...
Alice Munro
How is Mary's character depicted as insightful, compassionate, and fair in "The Shining Houses" by Alice Munro?
Mary is depicted as insightful, compassionate, and fair in "The Shining Houses" through her interactions with Mrs. Fullerton. She listens to and cares for the old woman, understands the unfairness of...
Alice Munro
Why does Munro end "To Reach Japan" with Katy pulling away from her mother?
Munro ends the story with the ambiguous act of "pulling away" between Greta and Katy to reflect the complex duality in their relationship. This ambiguity allows for multiple interpretations: Greta...
Alice Munro
What is the plot of Alice Munro's "The Found Boat"?
In "The Found Boat," Alice Munro explores the relationship between genders, primarily between boys and girls. Earlier in their childhoods, the boys had all been friends, but as they got older the...
Alice Munro
What is the irony in the last two paragraphs of Alice Munro's “The Shining Houses"?
In Alice Munro's "The Shining Houses," irony is used to convey the protagonist's dismay at the petition to evict Mrs. Fullerton from her home so they can build a new road in its place.
Alice Munro
How many short stories has Alice Munro published?
Alice Munro has published 163 short stories since her first in 1950, "The Dimensions of a Shadow." She is renowned for her contributions to the short story genre, which earned her the Nobel Prize in...
Alice Munro
In Alice Munro's short story "The Peace of Utrecht," what is the symbolism of the last scene?
In the last scene of Alice Munro's "The Peace of Utrecht," the broken antique bowl symbolizes Maddy's shattered life due to the burden of caring for her ailing mother. As Maddy stands amidst the...
Alice Munro
In Alice Munro's "To Reach Japan", how does Greta's actions reflect the gap between her identities as a wife, mother,...
Greta's actions highlight the conflict between her roles as a wife, mother, and poet in a pre-feminist society that diminishes women's intellectual pursuits. While Greta herself reconciles these...
Alice Munro
Does Helen's experience with her mother influence her own mothering in "The Peace of Utrecht"?
Helen's experience with her mother significantly influences her own mothering. In "The Peace of Utrecht," Helen and her sister Maddie struggled with their mother's mental illness, which left a...
Alice Munro
Compare the theme of parental expectations in "Red Dress" and "Two Kinds".
In "Red Dress" by Alice Munro and "Two Kinds" by Amy Tan, both stories explore parental expectations, with mothers projecting their desires onto their daughters. In "Red Dress," the mother seeks an...
Alice Munro
What is the main conflict in Alice Munro's "An Ounce of Cure" and why?
The primary conflict in “An Ounce of Cure” is that between the unnamed narrator and herself. Unable to deal with the emotional pain of a breakup, she tries to kill herself and starts hitting the...
Alice Munro
In "An Ounce of Cure" by Alice Munro, how does the setting contribute to the narrator’s grievances?
The setting in Alice Munro's "An Ounce of Cure" amplifies the narrator's grievances by trapping her youthful mistakes within a small, gossipy, and anti-alcohol town. This environment ensures her...
Alice Munro
What would Penelope write to Juliet in Alice Munro's "Silence"?
In "Silence," Penelope's potential letter to Juliet could reflect her internal struggle and reasons for leaving, though Munro leaves her true feelings ambiguous. Penelope might choose not to explain...
Alice Munro
How can I contact Alice Munro?
To contact Alice Munro, you should write to her literary agent, Abner Stein Agency, or her publisher, Random House. The agent's address is Abner Stein Agency, 10 Roland Gardens, London SW7 3PH,...