Carmen

The first two chapters of Carmen are presented from the perspective of an unnamed narrator, while the third is told from the perspective of Don José. What are the differences and similarities between the two narrative voices? What impact does the change in perspective create?

Carmen was initially published in serialized form. How has this initial publication style impacted the final structure of the work? How does Mérimée’s prose style fit the novella form?

How does Mérimée explore Power Imbalances in Relationships and Society? Consider real-world oppression and privilege in 19th-century Europe and in the present day, and whether they are accurately reflected in Carmen.

What is the significance of religious symbolism and practices, fortune-telling, and the supernatural in the novella? How do they build characterization and depict the novella’s themes?

How do Mérimée’s theories on race impact the novella? Analyze the characters of Carmen in light of contemporary understanding of racial biases.

How might the story of Carmen differ if it were told from Carmen’s perspective? How might a reader’s understanding of the novella’s events, characterizations, and themes be influenced by modern feminist theory?

How does Mérimée treat violence and death in Carmen? How do instances of conflict elucidate and contribute to the novella’s themes?

How does a character’s physical appearance in Carmen relate to their moral worth? What is the relationship between beauty and virtue?