Suite Francaise

Compare the settings of the two novels in the Suite. What does each setting contribute to the overall story?

Do a close reading of Némirovsky’s depiction of the Péricand family. What is their function in the novel? How are they similar to and different from other characters?

Discuss Némirovsky’s use of the motif of the woods in the text. In what ways are her depictions conflicting or ambiguous? What do these qualities suggest?

What are the various attitudes of characters in Dolce toward the occupying German regiment? What do they reveal about the characters, on the one hand, and the Germans, on the other? What does Némirovsky’s portrayal suggest about her own attitudes toward both the villagers in Bussy and the occupying Germans?

How does the theme of collaboration with the enemy relate to the theme of violence in the civic sphere in the novel?

Consider the role of occupation in the Suite—not just the German Occupation, but also various other kinds of occupations represented in the novel. To what extent are they linked, and what is the significance of the linkages?

How does Némirovsky build a sense of continuity despite having many minor characters and no main protagonist across the Suite? You should refer to specific narrative devices in your answer.

Examine the many different forms of collaboration with the enemy. Do you find Némirovsky making implicit or explicit judgments connected to the theme of Woman as Outsider?