Study Questions for John Patrick Shanleys Doubt 1. PREFACE.

Explore what Shanley has to say about doubt in the Preface by locatin and explicatin at least three passa es that assert the !ain point"s# of his ar u!ent. $. Explicate each of the epi raphs on pa e 11. %oo& up the sources if necessary. '. (ow do the play)s te!poral and spatial settin s contribute to the play)s sub*ect and the!es+ Feel free to research what &inds of issues do!inated life in the ,ronx- especially for Catholics- in the 1./0s. 1. PAR2 34E. 5hat is the !essa e of Father Flynn)s ser!on re ardin doubt and crises of faith+ 6. PAR2 253. Shanley pro7ides enou h descripti7e detail to help us create a !ental picture of Sister Aloysius. 5hat else do we learn about her fro! the con7ersation she has with Sister 8a!es+ 5hat &ind of ad7ice does Sister Aloysius i7e Sister 8a!es+ 5hy does Sister 8a!es be in to cry on pa e 19+ /. PAR2 2(REE. 5hat does Father Flynn teach the boys about cleanliness+ 5hat is the real lesson behind his concern o7er their fin ernails+ :. PAR2 F3;R. (ow has Sister 8a!es chan ed+ 5hat does Sister Aloysius !ean when states the followin to Sister 8a!es<< = would certainly choose to li7e in innocence. ,ut innocence can only be wisdo! in a world without e7il. Situations arise- and we are confronted with wron doin and the need to act "$:#. >o you a ree with her *ustification for action+ Explain. 9. PAR2 F=?E. 5hat is Sister Aloysius appalled by on pa e $.+ (ow would you characteri@e the !ain conflict between Father Flynn)s perception of the role of the Church and Sister Aloysius)+ .. PAR2 S=A. 5hat is the !essa e of Father Flynn)s ser!on re ardin false witness+ 10. PAR2 SE?E4. >o you belie7e Father Flynn is uilty of an inappropriate relationship with >onald Buller+ (ow does what he says to Sister 8a!es on pa e '. about lo7e- the hu!an heart- the cruelty of others- co!plicate our ability to see the truth+ 11. PAR2 E=C(2. Brs. Buller)s attitude is that Sister Aloysius should *ust %et hi! DFather FlynnE ha7e Fi! D>onaldE then "1'#+ 5hy does Brs. Buller feel this is the best way she can help her son+ (ow does Brs. Buller respond to Sister Aloysius) threat that she will do whate7er it ta&es to stop this+ 1$. Consider the followin << PleaseG Are we people+ A! = a person flesh and blood li&e you+ 3r are we *ust ideas and con7ictions. = can)t say e7erythin . >o you understand+ 2here are thin s = can)t say. E7en if you can)t i!a ine the explanation- Sister- re!e!ber that there are circu!stances beyond your &nowled e. E7en if you feel certainty- it is an e!otion- not a fact+ "1.#. (ow does Father Flynn)s appeal et at the core of the hu!an experience+ (ow do Father Flynn)s words illustrate the nature of uncertainty- the li!itations of 7erbal co!!unication+ 1'. PAR2 4=4E. 5hat does Sister Aloysius) confession re7eal+ 5hy does Shanley lea7e Father Flynn)s uilt "or innocence# a!bi uous+