Eco's fiction offers a remarkable abundance of material for discussion. He is consistently mindful of the reader, deliberately incorporating numerous ambiguities and puzzles to stimulate thought and debate. Despite the significant challenges it presents, The Name of The Rose has remained popular since its release. Its enduring appeal may be attributed, at least in part, to the rich array of topics it provides for discussion. Whether viewed as a detective story, historical fiction, psychological narrative, or philosophical treatise, it serves as an almost endless source of conversation.

1. Do William's numerous failures undermine his stature? Is he truly a Great Detective, or merely a parody of one?

2. Adso is portrayed as an elderly man recalling events from many years ago. Does he come across as a reliable narrator? Does Eco ever give us reason to question Adso's memory or honesty?

3. Most of the sexual encounters in the novel are homosexual. Does Eco highlight the monks' illicit relationships to reflect historical reality, or does he have another motive?

4. How does Eco make the medieval fears and joys of the characters understandable to contemporary readers?

5. Jorge of Burgos is a formidable antagonist, despite his blindness. How does his blindness actually enhance his danger?

6. William is compelled to abandon his apocalyptic theory of the murders. Are the murders truly random events, or is there a deeper sense in which the apocalyptic pattern holds true?

7. Eco includes numerous passages in Latin, which most readers cannot reasonably be expected to understand. Assuming he has a more serious intention than mere showmanship, why does he take this risk of alienating his readers?

8. What is the significance of the repeated references to William's eyeglasses?

9. Why does Eco complicate the narrative with the unusual tale of the fate of Adso's manuscript?

10. Several monks believe the unique manuscript of Aristotle is worth killing or dying for. Does Eco expect us to attribute such high value to it? Would it have been better if Jorge had destroyed it as soon as he recognized its nature?

11. The book ends on a grim note, with death pervasive, the diplomatic mission failed, the library destroyed, and Adso concluding his narrative as a weary old man. Have the forces of light — humor, tolerance, intellectual freedom — achieved any victories?