A Man Called Ove

Ove claims that he is not bitter: “People had always said that Ove was ‘bitter.’ But he wasn’t bloody bitter. He just didn’t go around grinning the whole time. Did that mean one had to be treated like a criminal?” (284). Make a case for whether Ove is bitter or not, using three concrete examples from the text.

The topic of aging is prevalent throughout the narrative, which Rune and Anita’s respective ailments and deteriorating conditions highlight. How does Ove’s fear of “losing control” (189) relate to aging? 

Provide an in-depth analysis of both cats’ symbolic roles throughout the text. 

Although she is a minor character, Lena plays a pivotal role in the narrative, as she gets the material that they use to blackmail the councilman. Why would the author choose to imbue this secondary character, a journalist and not a neighbor, with such importance? 

Ove is never a father, yet by the end of the book, he has become a “granddad” to Parvaneh and Patrick’s children. Explain the relevance of this development, citing concrete passages from the text.

It’s left unclear in the Epilogue whether Ove committed suicide or died of natural causes. What do you think happened? Use concrete points in the book to back up your argument. 

Given the open-ended nature of Ove’s death, why might the author leave this open to interpretation? What purpose does this serve? 

Has Backman designed Ove as a likeable character? How does Ove’s backstory make him a more sympathetic character, and is this effect intentional?