Book Club Discussion Questions
Please answer the questions in the comments section below. Label them with the question number.
1. The story in Testimony is told from many different perspectives. Why do you think Anita Shreve chose this narrative style for the novel? Can you see any connection between this style and some of the novel’s themes?
2. Some characters in Testimony --- for example, the students—narrate from the first person point of view. For other characters, such as Mike and Owen, the author always uses the third person. Rob’s mother, Ellen, speaks in the second person. What do these different points of view tell you about the roles of various characters in the story? Did you find yourself empathizing most with any character in particular?
3. Several characters comment that if the sexual incident at Avery had occurred at a local public school, it would have drawn little or no attention. Do you agree with this assessment? Is it fair that this elite institution be held to a different standard?
4. When Mike initially brings J.Dot into his office and accuses him of taking advantage of the girl in the video, J.Dot replies that “She knew better” (123). Do you think that Sienna knew better? Setting aside the letter of the law, how responsible do you think Sienna is for what happened?
5. When Sienna calls her mother on Wednesday morning (129), she cries hysterically. Her roommate, Laura, implies that Sienna may have been acting. Do you think that Sienna is acting or are her emotions genuine? Is it possible for both to be true at the same time?
6. When Silas first reflects on what he did on the videotape, he repeats the phrase “I wanted” (43) many times. When Anna recounts her affair with Mike, she too uses this refrain, “I wanted” (210). What do Silas and Anna each want? Are these purely sexual wants or are they more complicated? Why do you think mother and son use the same language of desire to condemn themselves? How much do you think desire is to blame for what happened?
7. Discuss the evolution of Anna and Owen’s marriage over the course of the novel. Are you surprised that they do not separate after all that has happened? Do you believe that by the end of the book Owen has forgiven Anna?
8. To describe her relationship with Silas, Noelle often uses the metaphor of walking through doors together. Did you feel this was an apt metaphor? How does the significance of this image change as the novel progresses?
9. Some of the parents of the boys feel a keen sense of responsibility for their sons’ behavior. Ellen in particularly says, “And, of course, you are. You are responsible” (189). Do you believe the parents of J.Dot, Silas, and Rob made decisions that in some way led to this event? How culpable should parents of teenagers feel for the behavior of their children?
10.As Silas writes in his journal, all his entries are addressed to Noelle. How does the tenor of the letters change over the course of the novel? Do you believe Noelle is capable of forgiving him? Should she forgive him?
11. Were you surprised when you learned who filmed the incident? All of the students involved seem to have made an unspoken agreement to protect this person’s identity. Do you agree with their reasons for doing so?
12. One of the big questions driving Testimony is “Why did these students do what they did?” In his letter to Ms. Barnard, Rob writes that “It was an act without a why” (303). What does Rob mean by this? Do you think the other three would agree with his assessment? If not, how might their answers be different?
13.What do you think will happen to the students in the future? What course can you see their lives taking in the months and years following the close of the novel? How will they be affected by the incident and its aftermath?
14. At the end of the novel, Rob suggests that, in an unexpected way, his life may turn out better because of what happened at Avery (304). Do you agree with his logic? Can you see any redemptive effects the scandal may have for other characters?
Questions provided from http://www.readinggroupguides.com/reviews/testimony/guide
13 comments:
1.) I find that it is difficult to write in many different perspectives, but I think it is interesting once you read each characters point of view. Anita Shreve did an excellent job of making each character come to life, I think for every Author their ultimate goal is to make their characters seem real.
2.) The students narrate from first person point of view which (if you are good with English) means that you are speaking or writing using the words: I, Me, My, Myself, etc. Mike and Owen speak using the third person point of view: He, She, It, Him, Her, His, etc. Typically the appropriate way to write. Ellen speaks in second person point of view: You, Yours, Yourself, and Yourselves. I think these points of view are what make the book so good. I find it boring to constantly read from the same point of view. I think it tells a lot about the characters as well. I think it tells the reader that each and every one of the characters are totally different from one another. A character who I really had empathy for was Sienna. It irritated me and shame on Anita Shreve because she puts so much effort towards the male characters, but for some ODD reason gives little or really NO attention toward the women. Their are suffering mothers devoted to their sons, and innocent girls like Noelle who are portrayed in an odd manor. I just felt for Sienna. She is the most interesting character in the novel, sketched as an unforgivable Trollop. Manipulative, and decieving everyone in her life. Anita Shreve missed a great opportunity for an exploration of what really drives young girls to sex. I also felt bad for Hellen.
*Ellen not Hellen* whoops.
3.) I do not agree with that assessment at all. I attended public schools for 10 years, (K-9). Then of course I have been attending a private catholic school for 3 years now. When I was in public school nothing like a sexual scandal ever occurred. I think that a lot of people look at the public schools before they look at the rich white kids who attend private schools when it comes to scandals. Sexual scandal and assaults should be taken very seriously in public schools and in private schools. Society needs to be protecting young girls and boys from sexual scandals and assaults. We are honestly not doing a very good job. I do not think it is fair that this elite private school got so much attention. I understand that these kids will probably go off to college at either Harvard or Yale but the media and the law need to stop being so biased.
1. The variety of perspectives works into the notion that every story has more than one side to it, especially a story wrought with lies and hidden agendas and emotional bias.
6. When it comes to Silas and Anna, it seems that their sexual/maybe emotional desires speak to what they truly want, that being a break from roles they are somewhat forced to play. Anna is a housewife, confined in a farm that rarely is concerned with Mike's wine drinking, collegiate lifestyle. Silas is a boy pushing himself to his limit in every aspect of life, never seeing his situation as one that allows mistakes. Even though he seems to pride himself on his ability to do these things successfully, there is always the idea that he wouldn't even be allowed to fail if he wanted to. Sienna was the breaking of rules, the life Silas found out of his reach. Who they want are metaphors for what they want.
9. The people responsible for children's behavior is, in my option, the person who raised them and they person who taught them. The staff at Avery is just as responsible for the mindset of their students as the parents are. For those who live at Avery, they are exposed even more to people who may not be taking their best interest into account.
11. The boys' refusal to name the person who filmed it, and their particular reason for doing so, is somewhat admirable. It shows that they all knew and took into account the repercussions of their actions. It was a good choice to insert that into the book.
12. I can buy into Rob's comment that it was "an act without a why" as I have found myself thinking the same when defending my past actions or justifying myself in relationships. I did not have a great high school experience--primarily beginning junior year--due to my own choices that led me to feel that I chose to put myself in situations as well as wear my shame but never had a good answer to why...and so I ended up sympathizing with Silas and Sienna on different levels. It more so a topic for a face-to-face discussion!
13. There is a recently released documentary on Netflix that I just watched called Audrie and Daisy. It is about this exact issue and how two girls were affected after enduring sexual assault--both involving alcohol. One of the girls committed suicide and the other was questioned about whether she knew what she was doing at 14 and perhaps was asking for it--just as we see with Sienna. Worth the watch!
My answer to question 9 gave a bit of the wrong impression. I think that the parents and teachers need to be held responsible for some things, but it really is a kids decision about what they want to do.
I absolutely love this book for discussion because of how it is written with all the different points of view. So many issues and situations to explore -- definitely relevant for all ages and should not be overlooked due to mature content.
3. I do firmly believe that had this happened at a public school it would not have been as big of a deal. Everyone has this belief that private schools really have nothin wrong with them or that the people that attend them are better than everyone else. The media of course jumps on it to laugh in the faces of the private school people as if to say, "You're not as perfect as you thought." However, I also believe that private schools are better able to hide big problems from the public so it is usually unlikely and surprising when something of this sort happens.
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