"The Unbearable Lightness of Being" is likely to spark engaging discussions, especially if the novel's explicit erotic themes are addressed head-on. Topics of particular interest might include its depiction of sexual norms, the conflict between sexual desire and marriage, gender distinctions, and the dynamics of fidelity and betrayal. Additionally, the novel's political themes remain relevant despite the fall of Communist regimes in the Eastern Bloc, as Kundera's questions surpass geopolitical limits and have broader relevance in today's world.

1. How does Karenin's story avoid falling into excessive sentimentality and thus becoming another example of kitsch?

2. What roles and interpretations of photography are presented in the novel? Why does Tereza choose photography as her profession, and how does this choice distinguish her from Sabina, who is a painter?

3. Is Kundera's critique of kitsch applicable to modern American culture, and in what ways?

4. Why exactly does Tomas refuse to retract his article on "Oedipus Rex"? If his intent is to oppose the Communist regime, why does he also decline to sign a statement of solidarity with other censored intellectuals?

5. Do the concepts of "lightness" and "weight" influence our personal lives and cultures? Identify some examples where they appear.

6. How might contemporary American feminism view Tomas's "womanizing" and Kundera's distinction between epic and lyric womanizers? Does Kundera's portrayal of Tomas subtly criticize feminism?

7. What purpose does Kundera's inclusion of a dictionary of key terms serve? Does it enhance the narrative or merely disrupt its flow?

8. Why does Tomas return to Prague and to Tereza? Is this a moral decision, or is it simply an act driven by emotion?

Harold Branam