53 pages • 1 hour read
Elena FerranteThe Lying Life of Adults
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2020A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Essay Topics
The concept of compunction comes up several times in The Lying Life of Adults. Define compunction, and then define how both Giovanna and Roberto use it in the text. What does their understanding of the term ultimately reveal about the ending of Chapter 6 for each character? Provide examples.
Different types of love arise in the narrative, including romantic, fatherly, and intellectual love. Choose 3 characters and explain how they approach love. What does their approach to love say about viewing love as absolute?
Compare Rione Alto and the Industrial Zone. Who inhabits which space? What symbolism do characters attribute to each area and why? Is there ever crossover? If so, what does this reveal about these spaces?
The novel’s title, The Lying Life of Adults, seems at first glance like an accusation about adulthood. What does Giovanna’s journey reveal about lies and adulthood? Do you think the title is an indictment or a statement about adulthood?
Giovanna mentions many mythic figures in the novel, including a gorgon, witches, and Harmonia. Briefly explain these stories, then explain why these myths and legends are important to understanding Giovanna’s character.
Ugliness is a term that appears thought the novel. It’s used interchangeably at times with evil or doing bad things. What does ugliness mean to the characters in the novel? Can one be ugly and good? Explain.
There are several explanations behind the bracelet’s origin. Who tells each story and how do they explain the bracelet’s meaning in their life? Do you think Giovanna was right for leaving it? Why?
There are many foils in The Lying Life of Adults: Nella and Aunt Vittoria, Angela and Giuliana, Roberto and Rosario. Pick one or two foils, explain them, and then explain why they are important to the novel’s structure as Giovanna’s coming-of-age story.
How do intellectualism and spiritualism play out in the novel and in whom do they largely appear? How does Giovanna interact with both, and why?
Many characters deal with the Peter Pan syndrome of not wanting to grow up. Explain how this syndrome affects Andrea, Angela, and Giovanna, or others. What does the fear of growing up mean to each character, who ultimately moves past this fear, and how?
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By Elena Ferrante
