Austerlitz

Railways, including metros and stations, are a prominent motif. What is their significance to Austerlitz?

Austerlitz says that in every monumental building, there is the seed of its own destruction. Explore three textual examples where his claim is either validated or discredited, literally or figuratively. How does each instance play into the novel’s themes?

If, as Hilary argues, it is impossible to describe what actually happened in the past, what is the point of history? And does the novel somehow argue for that view of history? Cite at least three examples from the novel to support your answer.

What is the “obscure disease spreading underground” (300) in Paris that Henri Lemoine identifies from one of the towers of the Bibliothèque Nationale? How does it relate to the novel’s themes or symbolism?

Gerald’s uncles, Alphonso and Evelyn, embody two very different ways of life. What does each man represent in his way of life? Focus on their respective fates and the way in which each is characterized.

Austerlitz believes that humanity’s most perfectly executed projects result in the greatest dysfunction. How does Austerlitz himself inadvertently illustrate his own assertion?

Analyze the role of three photographs. How do they echo or supplement the text? What effect do they have on the reader?

How does Sebald use imagery to signal varying moods in different times from Austerlitz’s life?