How are Alain-Fournier’s characters harmed by their unwillingness to relinquish their childhoods? Are there any positive aspects to this refusal? How does Fournier attempt to blur the distinction between childhood and adulthood, and does he succeed? Do you agree with this view? Assuming that it is correct, does the dual nature of the novel undermine its feeling of unity, or, to the contrary, does it create a sense of balance and symmetry?įor Alain-Fournier’s story to work, his main characters must be young enough to embrace ideas of innocent fantasy, but old enough to marry.

Some readers have seen The Lost Estate as two novels in one-the first half dreamlike and surreal and the second half almost painful in its realism. What artistic or thematic similarities do you notice between The Lost Estate and the work of these early masters of the mystery tale?

What, on a deeper level, is Meaulnes looking for? What is the possibility that he will actually find it?Īlain-Fournier was a devoted reader of Edgar Allan Poe mysteries and the Sherlock Holmes stories of Conan Doyle. How does the impression of his personality created by these passages differ from François’s view of him?Īlthough Meaulnes spends much of the novel seeking to rediscover the site of the strange party that has transformed his life, it may be argued that he is really seeking something less tangible. Is François capable of being objective about Meaulnes? How does his love for his friend affect our ability as readers to judge him for ourselves?Ī handful of scenes in the novel are narrated by Meaulnes, through his letters and journal. Why do you think Alain-Fournier chose to tell the story of Meaulnes principally through the eyes of François Seurel? What might he have gained-or lost-by having Meaulnes tell his own story? The Lost Estate is one of many great novels- Moby-Dick and The Great Gatsby are other examples-in which the story of a charismatic hero is narrated by an awestruck, somewhat lesser figure.

Le grand meaulnes english