A Visit to Grandmother

The story’s unassuming title, “A Visit to Grandmother,” obscures its intricate ideas. How can the title contribute to the understanding of the story’s themes and conflicts? How does it shape expectations for the story? Use examples from the text to support your answer.

Eva is a complex character who appears to be fiercely protective of her children while also struggling to acknowledge her son’s resentment over his upbringing. How do her seemingly contradictory traits manifest throughout the story? What do they reveal about Eva’s psyche and motivations?

“A Visit to Grandmother” is narrated by Chig, but the story is primarily about the relationship between his father and grandmother. What is the significance of using Chig as the narrator? How does his perspective shape the understanding of the story’s themes?

In what ways does the author use foreshadowing to build tension throughout the story? Discuss how this device impacts the reader’s interpretation of the ending.

The story is primarily set in the South during the mid-20th century. Discuss how the historical and social context of the period shape the characters and their experiences. Cite evidence from the text to support your argument.

In what ways does the family home serve as a symbol of both comfort and conflict? How does Charles’s relationship with his family home contribute to his character development and the story’s themes?

Discuss the motif of youth and how it contributes to the story’s themes. What is the significance of GL’s recurrent characterization as a “five-year-old”? How does Charles’s return to his childhood home highlight the ways his family’s conflicts have influenced his sense of self as an adult?

Discuss the role of silence and its connection to the story’s main conflict. In what ways do the characters’ unexpressed emotions reveal deeper tensions within the family?

Throughout the story, Charles’s attitude toward his mother and brother is marked by ambivalence. How does the author use language and characterization to convey this complex emotional state? Cite examples from the text.