The Hours Questions

Bring on the tough stuff - there’s not just one right answer.

  1. How closely do the "Mrs. Dalloway" chapters in The Hours parallel the original Mrs. Dalloway?
  2. What metaphors, similes, and forms of imagery has Michael Cunningham lifted directly from Mrs. Dalloway? Which are his own?
  3. How would you characterize the novel's perspective (or perspectives) on suicide?
  4. According to The Hours, what makes life worth living?
  5. In the early 2000s, The Hours became an award-winning film. Given the character descriptions that we see in the novel, what are your thoughts on the film's casting? Was Claire Danes right for Julia? Does Julianne Moore look like the novel's Laura Brown?