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51 pages 1 hour read

Harlan Coben

Tell No One

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2001

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Essay Topics

1.

How important are technological developments in the unfolding of Coben’s plot? 

2.

Discuss Coben’s depiction of non-white minorities in the novel. What balance does he strike behind fully-fleshed characterization and stereotyping? 

3.

Discuss the role of topography in Coben’s novel. How do Coben’s depictions of New York City and suburbia aid his characterization and plot?

4.

Discuss Coben’s presentation of masculinity in his novel. How does David transition between modern and macho types of masculinity?

5.

To what extent could Coben’s novel function as a love story as opposed to a crime narrative? Consider the typical features of both genres in your answer.

6.

How does Coben depict the police force in his novel? What is their function in the narrative? 

7.

What is the role of secrets and secret-keeping in Coben’s novel? 

8.

Throughout his novel, Coben switches between first and third-person narration. What is the effect of this diversity on the reader? 

9.

In what ways does Coben tailor his writing style to convey a sensation of immediacy? You should refer to at least three different techniques in your answer. 

10.

To what extent do you think Coben’s novel has a conclusive, “happy ending,” and what effect do the twists and ambiguities in the last five chapters have on the reader’s experience of the book? 

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