• Styron notes that his deep depression began after he quit drinking alcohol. Research the connections between alcoholism and depression and discuss how the former might lead to the latter.

• Write an essay examining common psychological or physical illnesses frequently found among artists and writers.

• After interviewing individuals suffering from emotional illnesses, write a short essay comparing their experiences to those with physical illnesses. Utilize your own experiences or those of people you know, if applicable.

• Investigate the lives of Virginia Woolf, Randall Jarrell, and Vincent Van Gogh. Discuss the relationships between their emotional struggles and their creative work. How do these aspects influence each other?

• Read one of Styron’s novels, such as Lie Down in Darkness or The Confessions of Nat Turner. Describe the tone of these works. What connections, if any, can you draw between Styron’s depression and his novels? Remember that Styron mentioned a persistent dark mood throughout much of his life.