The Secret Life of Walter Mitty and Story
“The Catbird Seat”
1. How is suspense aroused and maintained in the story? What is the story’s principal surprise?
2. Through whose consciousness are the events of the story chiefly seen? Are there any departures from this strictly limited point of view? Where in the story are we taken most fully into Mr. Martin’s mind? For what purpose?
3. At what point in the story do Mr. Martin’s plans change? What happens to the point of view at this point? What does Thurber’s handling of the point of view here tell us about the seriousness of the story’s purpose?
4. Characterize Mr. Martin and Mrs. Barrows respectively. In what ways are they character foils?
5. Analyze the story in terms of its conflicts. What kinds of conflict are involved? Is there any internal conflict? What kind of conflict that might be expected in a murder story is missing?
6. What is the main purpose of the story?
7. Why does Thurber choose this particular expression of Mrs. Barrows’ for his title rather than one of her others?
8. How does Thurber create humour in his story?
“The Secret Life of Walter Mitty”
1. Explain what the title of the story refers to.
2. Why does Walter Mitty find it necessary to have a “secret life”?
3. Although he does not dare disobey Mrs. Mitty openly, he does defy her in little ways. Give an example of this defiance.
4. In this story, Walter drifts off into five different fantasies. Each fantasy is triggered by something in the real world that sets him off daydreaming until something else from the real world snaps him out of it. What connections are there between his daydreams and the incidents that lead him in and out of the daydreams?
5. What qualities does he possess in his fantasies? Give proof from the daydreams.
6. What traits does he possess in his real life? Give proof from the story.
1. How is suspense aroused and maintained in the story? What is the story’s principal surprise?
2. Through whose consciousness are the events of the story chiefly seen? Are there any departures from this strictly limited point of view? Where in the story are we taken most fully into Mr. Martin’s mind? For what purpose?
3. At what point in the story do Mr. Martin’s plans change? What happens to the point of view at this point? What does Thurber’s handling of the point of view here tell us about the seriousness of the story’s purpose?
4. Characterize Mr. Martin and Mrs. Barrows respectively. In what ways are they character foils?
5. Analyze the story in terms of its conflicts. What kinds of conflict are involved? Is there any internal conflict? What kind of conflict that might be expected in a murder story is missing?
6. What is the main purpose of the story?
7. Why does Thurber choose this particular expression of Mrs. Barrows’ for his title rather than one of her others?
8. How does Thurber create humour in his story?
“The Secret Life of Walter Mitty”
1. Explain what the title of the story refers to.
2. Why does Walter Mitty find it necessary to have a “secret life”?
3. Although he does not dare disobey Mrs. Mitty openly, he does defy her in little ways. Give an example of this defiance.
4. In this story, Walter drifts off into five different fantasies. Each fantasy is triggered by something in the real world that sets him off daydreaming until something else from the real world snaps him out of it. What connections are there between his daydreams and the incidents that lead him in and out of the daydreams?
5. What qualities does he possess in his fantasies? Give proof from the daydreams.
6. What traits does he possess in his real life? Give proof from the story.