The Monk: A Romance
M. G. (Matthew Gregory) Lewis
Contains spoilers for the entire book.
Discussion topics
Topic 01 of 08
The saint of Madrid
Why is Ambrosio so admired at the start, and what does his pride tell us about him?
Keep the conversation going
- How does his sheltered life in the monastery prepare his fall?
- Is he wicked from the start or made wicked?
There is no single right answer. Bring your own reading.
Discussion topics
Why is Ambrosio so admired at the start, and what does his pride tell us about him?
Keep the conversation going
- How does his sheltered life in the monastery prepare his fall?
- Is he wicked from the start or made wicked?
How did you respond when the novice Rosario is revealed as Matilda?
Keep the conversation going
- What does she want from Ambrosio, and what does she turn out to be?
- Who is really in control in their relationship?
How does Ambrosio's desire for the innocent Antonia lead him from sin to crime?
Keep the conversation going
- Why does the novel make Antonia so helpless?
- How did you respond to the revelation of who Antonia and Elvira really are?
What does the story of Agnes and her punishment by the Prioress add to the novel's attack on religious hypocrisy?
Keep the conversation going
- How did you react to her imprisonment in the vaults?
- What did you make of the mob's revenge on the Prioress?
How did you respond to Raymond's tale of the Bleeding Nun?
Keep the conversation going
- Why does Lewis include a ghost story within the main plot?
- Does the subplot strengthen or distract from the book?
How does the novel's mix of horror, sex and sensation work on the reader?
Keep the conversation going
- Why do you think the book caused a scandal in 1796?
- Is the excess part of the point?
How did you respond to Ambrosio's final bargain and the devil's last words to him?
Keep the conversation going
- Could he have been saved, on the novel's terms?
- What does the ending say about repentance?
How does The Monk compare with other Gothic novels you know?
Keep the conversation going
- What does it suggest about the dangers of shutting people away from the world?
- Why do you think it still finds readers?
There is no single right answer. Bring your own reading.