Brooklyn

1. General Impressions

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

• In reading this book, did you learn anything surprising about mid-century Irish immigration that you didn’t know before?
• Who were you rooting for—Tony or Jim? Why?

2. Personal Reflection and Connection

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

• Have you ever immersed yourself in another country or culture? What sort of things challenged you about confronting another way of life?
• Which stage of Eilis’s adaptation to American life resonated with you most? Were there any scenes that stood out as being particularly authentic?
• Throughout the novel, Eilis struggles with her family’s expectations. Do you think it’s possible both to satisfy such expectations and pursue one’s own dreams? Why or why not?
• Consider the homesickness that Eilis experiences in America. Have you ever felt this way about a person or place? How did you navigate these feelings?

3. Societal and Cultural Context

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

• How has immigration to the US changed between the 1950s and today? Do you think that Brooklyn offers any messages for the contemporary US? 
• How does the novel combine Irish, American, and Italian influences? What sort of commentary does this offer on the idea of the US as a “nation of immigrants”?
• How is Jim Farrell’s character a product of his time period? In what ways do his attitudes and actions continue to resonate?

4. Literary Analysis

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

• What role do gender expectations play in shaping the plot? What point do you think the novel is making about women’s status in the 1950s? 
• If Tony and Jim are foil for one other, who could be a foil for Eilis? Use examples from the text to support your answer.
• What does Eilis’s affinity for numbers communicate about her personality? How does she illustrate these traits during the novel?
• Is Rose a static character or a dynamic character? Explain your reasoning.
• Discuss how Father Flood acts as an archetypal mentor figure. What other characters in the novel might fill archetypal roles?

5. Creative Engagement

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

• Watch the film adaptation of this novel. Would you have approached the casting, soundtrack, pacing, etc. similarly if you were adapting Brooklyn into a movie?
• Imagine yourself visiting your country for the first time. Which everyday habits or beliefs might seem strange to you as an outsider?
• Write a scene from the novel from a secondary or tertiary character’s point of view.

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