Epicac

Why does the narrator choose to end the story with the last line “De mortuis nil nisi bonum—Say nothing but good of the dead?”

Does the story create an image of love and marriage that you would hope for yourself or your friends? Why or why not?

Write an argument in which you name EPICAC or the narrator as the story’s hero.

Is the narrator truly a friend to EPICAC? Why or why not?

Does the narrator successfully “vindicate” EPICAC? Write an argument defending your position.

If this story was to be read as an allegory, what characters and events in the story do you feel are represented in historical events?

If this story were to be re-written in the 21st century, what aspects of the tension and conflict would have to change?

Write an essay that would be the forward to this story if you were the editor of a major magazine like Time or National Geographic and you are going to re-print this story in an upcoming special issue.