The Sun Also Rises

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of substance use, racism, and animal cruelty and death.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. How did Hemingway’s sparse writing style, where much meaning lies beneath the surface, influence the way you experienced the story?

2. Which scenes or moments from the novel have lingered with you most vividly and why?

3. Many readers compare the disillusionment in The Sun Also Rises to F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, with both examining the emptiness behind seemingly glamorous lifestyles. Did you find similarities between these two portraits of the 1920s, and which portrayal of wealth resonated more with you?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Jake’s war wound forever alters his relationship possibilities with Brett. When have limitations that were beyond your control shaped significant life choices for you?

2. Where have you found your greatest sense of belonging? Have you ever felt unmoored, like the characters who drift between Paris and Pamplona without finding contentment?

3. Brett Ashley chooses independence over conventional relationships throughout the novel.