Castle of Otronto Prompts

Let the following prompts inspire you to "make meaning-making" from the fiction you have just read. You are not restricted to the prompts, but you can write about anything you see as significant in the text.

1. Take a feminist point of view and blog your ideas about the role of women in the text's setting. What options do women have? Are these options reasonable considering the time period? What concerns do characters have for women's feelings? Speculate as to Walpole's views about women.

2. How does the text promote chivalry and romance? By romance, I don't mean just love between two people, but heightened sensitivity to feelings and emotions.

3. Speculate as to what Walpole may be saying about patriarchy and monarchy. Do you think he supported unquestioned allegiance to King and country--unquestioned submission to authority (King or parent)? Do you think his personal views about his father played into the text? Do you think it is reasonable to see the text allegorical--that Walpole was actually making commentary about 18th century England?

4. Do you see a moral theme in the tale?

5. What do you make of the conclusion? What does the conclusion say about marriage and romantic relationships.

6. Do you see evidence of Shakespearean influence in the story? How so?