1. Why begin and end with Charles? How does this place Emma in perspective?

2. Watch for descriptions of eyes, sight, lack of sight; describe how these passages contribute to characterization.

**3. Characterize the atmosphere of Tostes and Yonville; how does the environment here shape individual lives? how do Emma and Charles react to these environments?

**4. Which characters are treated sympathetically? how does this treatment illuminate Flaubert's moral sense?

**5. How does Emma define love? Charles? What passages illustrate their view?

**6. Find three passages spread over the first 75 pages that illustrate Flaubert as a master of realistic detail at work. Explain and defend your choices.

7. What points of view are used in the narrative? how do these affect your involvement?

**8. Describe how Flaubert portrays basic bourgeois behavior and attitudes. How do these compare with the aristocrats; does either group come out ahead?

9. Watch for times when Emma stands at a window; what need does this behavior seem to reflect?

10. Images of machines reappear at intervals; what ideas do these images call up?

**11. Reflect on how money, materialism, economic issues are used to comment on bourgeois society, and specifically the Bovary family.

12. Discuss how Emma's fascination with romantic (and Romantic) ideals affects her life.

13. Characterize Emma's attitudes towards Charles, Leon, Rodolphe.

14. After this novel was published, Flaubert was brought to trial on charges of immorality; if you were a member of the jury, what would you decide?

15. Is Emma's fate tragic? is the novel tragic? why or why not?