Babette's Feast

Both Martine and Philippa have entanglements with men from outside Berlevaag, yet they do not discuss them with one another. What does their silence signify? Do they acknowledge and move past these matters by the end of the story? Use examples from the text to support your response.

How does Karen Blixen’s religious upbringing inform the religious beliefs of her characters? Does the story criticize or praise the sisters’ way of life? Use examples from the text to support your response.

How is Babette’s background as a Communard and chef significant to her new identity as a “maid-of-all-work” in Berlevaag? Why, in your opinion, did the author choose this particular backstory for Babette?

What is the significance of Loewenhielm’s connection to Norwegian folklore and how does it impact his relationship with Martine?

Do Martine and Philippa change significantly over the course of the story? Why or why not? Use examples from the text to support your response.

Compare the reactions of Loewenhielm and the other Parisian diners at Café Anglais to Babette’s culinary artistry with the reaction of the denizens of Berlevaag. What are their differences and similarities?

Explore the dichotomy of Babette’s role as a Communard and her dependence on the elite class of Paris to recognize her skills as a culinary artist. How does this resonate with the theme of the Paris Commune and Babette’s role as a maid?

What is the significance of Loewenhielm’s words when he tells Martine, “I shall be with you every day that is left to me. […] For tonight I have learned, dear sister, that anything in this world is possible” (39)? Does Martine return his love? Why or why not?