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Fathers and Sons book club questions

by Ivan Sergeevich Turgenev · a kit for three meetings · 15 questions · printable

Fifteen discussion questions for Fathers and Sons, grouped by three stretches of the book of about the same length, with a reading plan, themes to talk about and a sheet you can print. Two good openers: how fair is Bazarov's refusal to accept romantic suffering as an excuse for wasted effort? And how might seeing rural poverty complicate Arkady's pleasure in coming home?

See the book

The reading plan

Meeting 1

Chapters 1 to 13

About 1 h 35 min to read

Meeting 2

Chapters 14 to 21

About 1 h 36 min to read

Meeting 3

Chapters 22 to 28

About 1 h 39 min to read

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Meeting 1: Chapters 1 to 13

  1. How might seeing rural poverty complicate Arkady's pleasure in coming home?
  2. What might Arkady gain or lose by defending Bazarov's rejection of authority to Paul Petrovitch?
  3. How fair is Bazarov's refusal to accept romantic suffering as an excuse for wasted effort?
  4. What might make Paul Petrovitch's visit to Thenichka and her baby awkward?
  5. What might Nikolai Petrovitch's retreat into memories suggest about his place in the household's disagreements?

Meeting 2: Chapters 14 to 21

  1. What would you expect Arkady to make of Bazarov's unusual behavior during the hotel visit?
  2. How might shared arguments and amusements deepen rather than ease the unease between Arkady and Bazarov?
  3. How might Arkady's growing closeness to Katia change what he wants from Bazarov?
  4. How do Bazarov's struggles with his feelings challenge his earlier judgment of romantic suffering?
  5. How do you judge Anna Sergievna's choice of peace over uncertain desire after Bazarov declares his love?

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Meeting 3: Chapters 22 to 28

  1. How might the family letters let Arkady act on hopes that a cold welcome could have discouraged?
  2. How might the unexpected witness change the meaning of Bazarov's encounter with Thenichka?
  3. What might the turn from a duel to a conversation about love and marriage suggest about handling conflict?
  4. How might Arkady's proposal to Katia represent both a personal choice and a change in belief?
  5. What might Bazarov be protecting by rejecting sympathy and leaving Arkady?

Themes to talk about

Generational disagreementBelief and experienceParental devotionChanging attachments

Tips for the host

  1. Open each meeting with one question everyone can answer, then go deeper.
  2. Anyone who fell behind can catch up with the 15-minute summary.

Free for 3 months

Get the full summary of Pères et Fils, free

  • 200,000+ classics as eBooks, audiobooks and 15-minute summaries, and print and large print at cost
  • Up to 5 readers in your home on one plan
Commencez 90 jours gratuitsNothing to pay today. 0,14 USD a day in the first year, then 0,27 USD a day.
200,000+ classics to read, hear and hold

15-minute summaries today, eBooks and audiobooks as each book opens, and printed books, large print included, at cost.

Try 3 months free

More book club kits: Beauty and the Beast · The Raven · The Fall of the House of Usher · All kits

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