James: A Novel

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2024

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Before You Read

Summary

Background

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 1, Chapters 1-16

Part 1, Chapters 17-32

Part 2

Part 3

Character Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Book Club Questions

Tools

Discussion Questions

Essay Topics

Discuss the motif of religion. What is Jim’s opinion of Christianity? How do enslavers use Christianity to uphold the institution of enslavement?

Discuss Jim’s relationship with Huck. How would you characterize their friendship, and how does Jim nurture Huck’s moral development? Does the fact that Jim is ultimately revealed as Huck’s father “explain” his interest in Huck, or is there more to their friendship?

Discuss the theme of The Brutality of Enslavement. In addition to physical violence, what other kinds of coercive tools do enslavers use to preserve the social order and perpetuate the idea of white supremacy?