The Woman in the Dunes

Discuss the man’s metaphor of a one-way ticket versus a round-trip ticket in the context of his character arc. How does his understanding of Stability and Movement evolve over the course of the story?

In what ways would the novel’s underlying themes shift if the man had successfully escaped when he first got out of the sand pit? Cite specific examples from the text to support your argument.

Throughout the story, the man compares the woman and other villagers to various animals. What do those comparisons suggest about how he views them?

Do you believe that the man is still living in the sand pit after seven years or that he has a different fate? Explain your opinion, citing examples from the text to support your argument.

Discuss Abe’s portrayal of gender roles in the relationship between the man and the woman and make an argument for them as traditional (within the context of the novel’s setting: post-war Japan) or non-traditional. Cite specific examples from the text to support your argument.

What would the man consider a “good life” at the beginning of the story versus at the end? How do you think his perspective differs from the woman’s?

Examine the steps that lead to the man resigning himself to a life of shoveling sand. What does the novel’s conclusion contribute to the novel’s theme of Futility Versus Purpose?

Why do you think the man named the crow trap “Hope”? What links does the novel imply between the concept of hope and the theme of Freedom and Imprisonment? Cite specific examples from the text to support your argument.