The Life You Save May Be Your Own

How does the character of Lucynell function in the story? Why do you think Flanner O’Connor chose to make her deaf and mentally disabled? What emerges through her lack of speech and her repetition of the one word Mr. Shiftlet teaches her?

How is “The Life You Save May be Your Own” an example of Southern Gothic literature? What comment does it make on society at the time?

Flannery O’Connor uses symbolism, metaphor, and similes throughout her short story. How do these forms of figurative language reveal the story’s themes?

This story employs a third-person point of view. Why do you think Flannery O’Connor chose this perspective? How does it help the reader better understand each character, or does it?

Many of Flannery O’Connor’s stories center around themes of grace, salvation, and redemption. Where do you see these themes appearing in “The Life You Save May be Your Own”? What comment is she making on these themes?

The title of the short story comes from a road sign Mr. Shiftlet sees as he drives toward Mobile. However, Flannery O’Connor said the original title was “The World Is Almost Rotten.” Why do you think she wanted that title originally? Why do you think she changed it? What does the new title signify?

Identify the many instances of Christian imagery and iconography in the story. What comment is the author making about people’s beliefs? What comment is she making about the visible and invisible world, or about appearances and deceptions?

The characters of this short story reveal themselves through both their dialogue and their actions. How does what they say differ from what they do? What commentary is the author offering on the power of appearances?