In The Death of the Heart, Anna works in interior design before marrying Thomas. Investigate the societal position of British women in the 1930s and whether it was common for a young woman from a wealthy family to pursue a career. What types of jobs did women hold in 1930s England? How did this situation compare to that in the United States during the same period?

In the novel, Portia arrives in London without much formal education. Anna and Thomas enroll her in a school seemingly designed for affluent girls who have struggled academically. Examine the education system for women and girls in England during the 1930s. Were there publicly funded schools for girls, or were they predominantly private and church-supported institutions? What subjects did these schools offer? How many girls pursued higher education at universities and colleges?

Select a chapter from The Death of the Heart that you find particularly compelling and adapt it into a scene for a play. Perform this scene with a group of students. What insights about the characters and their relationships can be derived from this activity? How do the events in this chapter contribute to the overall narrative of the novel?

In The Death of the Heart, Portia runs away due to her dissatisfaction with the treatment she receives from Anna, Eddie, and others. Choose another literary work featuring a teenage runaway and compare and contrast it with this novel. Possible options include The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, Rite of Passage by Richard Wright, and A Girl Named Disaster by Nancy Farmer. Present your analysis in a Venn diagram or an essay.