How I Met My Husband

Do a close reading of Alice Kelling’s character. To what extent does Munro elicit sympathy for this woman? How does this change the story’s portrayal of Edie, by comparison?

What role do social class and class tension play in Munro’s story? How does she disrupt class-based stereotypes? Cite at least five examples from the text.

What role does the Second World War play in the story? To what extent does discussion around the war by the characters allow for the contemplation of how society might be in the future?

Discuss the symbolism of food in Munro’s story. How do characters’ attitudes to food reveal their priorities?

How does Munro make use of twists in her narrative and what role do these play in making Edie a more compelling character?

To what extent does Munro show that female empowerment comes from acting independently as opposed to as a collective? Does Edie’s attitude to this change in the course of the narrative?

Discuss the motif of time passing in the story. How does Munro present the relationship between the passage of time and female agency?

To what extent is How I Met My Husband a love story? Compare Munro’s story to other love stories you are familiar with.