Gaudy Night

Think about the reckless youths who crop up in Gaudy Night. Discuss some examples and the way that their presence furthers the plot.

The attacks upon the female scholars of Shrewsbury can be viewed as the conflict between privilege and poverty. Explain how this is so.

The novel’s title refers to a specific celebration held at Harriet’s alma mater. The word “gaudy” is also defined as garish, lurid, loud, glaring, harsh, or violent. Discuss how these other adjectives might be appropriate in describing the novel. Give specific examples.

Annie takes a traditional view of the role of women. What is it? How does it come into conflict with the values of the Shrewsbury scholars?

Talk about the way that the general public perceived female intellectuals in 1935 Britain. Does this cultural bias create any additional problems for Harriet’s personal relationship with Wimsey?

Harriet considers Oxford to be a refuge from her life in London. Why does she believe this? Is she right?

Wimsey has been asking Harriet to marry him for years. How does his attitude about this pursuit change by the end of the novel?

A number of characters make bad choices that carry heavy consequences. Discuss this issue in the context of Miss de Vine’s experience. Does she come to regret her earlier choices?