Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne

Do you think this is true? In what ways is she now more modern than many of the other characters?ġ1.

When the book was written, the Parsee Indian Aouda represented the unknown and the exotic, but in many ways she is the character that the modern reader finds most familiar. Why do you think the hero, the mysterious Phileas Fogg, accepts the bet to travel the globe in eighty days?ġ0. Why do you think Verne chose to call his hero Fogg, the detective Fix, and the assistant Passepartout, which means skeleton key in French?ĩ. Many of the characters in the novel have names that in some way illuminate their roles. Now that it is relatively easy to go around the world in eighty days, why is this tale still entertaining and relevant?Ĩ. In many ways, Verne’s tale is one about the future, and many of his ideas have come to pass. Would you agree? What evidence can you find to support this, and what lessons do you think we can learn from this novel today?ħ. In his Introduction, Bruce Sterling argues that comments on globalization in Eighty Days are particularly relevant today.

For Verne, the world is shrinking exploration has given way to tourism and imperialism. After having read Around the World in Eighty Days, does it surprise you that Verne is considered by many to be the father of science fiction? Where do you think Verne’s scientific expertise adds to the story?Ħ. Verne had an avid interest in science, particularly geology and geography, and was somewhat of an inventor. Why might Verne have chosen a protagonist that is so quintessentially British, while the author himself was French?ĥ. Despite the international setting, this book is distinctly British in many ways. Although the story begins in London, it eventually spans the entire globe. What do you think of this characterization and how would you compare it to contemporary adventure novels and films? What elements of the adventure genre have changed over time, and where do you think today’s adventure authors owe a debt to Verne?Ĥ. Around the World in Eighty Days is considered one of the most popular adventure novels of all time. Do you think the book has particularly theatrical elements that would lead to its adaptation as a play?ģ. What elements in this novel do you think came out of Verne’s theatrical experiences? After Eighty Days was published, Verne received many requests to dramatize the work. Verne became very involved with theater while studying law in Paris and is the author of many plays. In what ways do you think these elements of the author’s own life may have influenced Around the World in Eighty Days?Ģ. When he was still young, Verne himself became a cabin boy on a merchant ship. Having been born into a family that had made their living from the sea, Jules Verne spent his early years in a seaport town.

Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne