The Name of the Rose

The character of William of Baskerville is a complex one. We come to know him through Adso’s eyes, and see that he is worthy of his pupil’s love and respect. And yet, Adso is often troubled by his master’s methods of reasoning, as well as by the ambiguity of some of his beliefs. Many readers have noted that the novel alludes to the relationship between the great detective, Sherlock Holmes, and his sidekick, Dr. Watson. The elder Adso, reflecting on his farewell to William, says, “I pray always that God… forgave him the many acts of pride that his intellectual vanity had made him commit” (607). Just like the self-assured Holmes, William revels in the process of investigation, almost as much as the truths he pursues. Looking at the many instances of intellectual prowess and combat, what does the novel suggest about the intellectual “seductions” that take place? How does this theme relate to the other themes about the dangers of learning, and of representation itself? What path, if any, does the novel ultimately hold up as the best way of discerning truth? 

The architecture of the abbey is an important symbol in the novel. The majesty of the buildings exemplifies their place in the medieval world. The scriptorium and the library, respectively, are the seat of learning and the repository of knowledge. As such, they perpetuate man’s achievements on earth and invoke God’s glory. Yet, these structures are also rank with corruption and dissention, and ultimately, they are destroyed. Discuss the ways in which architecture, particularly but not solely the library and the scriptorium, have larger meanings beyond their role in the plot. What issues and conflicts does the architecture evoke, and how are these resolved?

The Name of The Rose makes numerous references to the Antichrist as well as to the apocalypse—both the literal book of Revelation, as well as the end of the world. Within the framework of the novel, discuss the extent to which Bernard Gui and Jorge each take on the role of the Antichrist, and how these symbolic meanings evoke the larger conflicts in the novel.

Discuss Jorge of Burgos’s views on the dangers of comedy as a genre, and the perversions of laughter in particular. Look closely at his various discourses on this topic, from the first encounter in the scriptorium, to his sermon in the middle of the novel, to his final excoriations in the most secret room of the library, the finis Africae. Compare and contrast Jorge’s world view with William’s. What position, if any, does the novel take on this issue? How does it situate Aristotle’s views in the moral universe of the book?

The character of Salvatore is a complex one, for though he is a part of the “simple” world, he is not a fool. He speaks words that contain many truths for all levels of society, including the most powerful. William, too, has much to say on the wisdom of “the simple,” while Jorge wishes to silence them. What role do “the simple” play in this novel, and what kind of wisdom do they offer?

What position does the novel take on Adso’s sexual experience with the young peasant girl? Looking closely at how this episode is described, as well as Adso’s ruminations afterwards, how does sexual experience get portrayed, and to what ends? How does this issue relate to the religious framework of the novel?

How is the setting of The Name of The Rose, in 1327, amidst major historical and ecclesiastical conflicts, crucial to an understanding of the novel? Why is it important that the story occurs during a time when various Catholic orders, the Dominicans and Franciscans, for example, are in conflict with one another? And what is the significance of the dispute between the imperial court of Louis IV, the Holy Roman Emperor, and the papal court of John XXII? How are historical figures such as Ubertino of Casale and Bernard Gui employed by the narrative for thematic and symbolic ends?

Discuss the motif of poison in the novel using specific examples and close reading of passages. How is poison related to punishment? To knowledge? To intellectual curiosity?