After Ever After

How does the narrative depict the social effects of a cancer diagnosis through the characters of Jeff and Tad? Use textual evidence to support your argument

Compare and contrast Jeff’s relationships with his mother and father. How is each impacted by his diagnosis?

Choose two to three humorous moments in the novel and analyze them. What role does humor play in the narrative? What does this suggest about its role in Dealing with Loss and Grief?

What is Lindsey’s role in the story? How does she support and/or challenge Jeff’s narrative arc? Use textual evidence to support your argument.

Throughout the novel, Jeff feels responsible for causing his family distress because of his illness. How does his guilt manifest implicitly and explicitly? How does his mindset evolve over the course of the story? Use textual evidence to support your argument.

Consider the novel’s use of first-person narration. How does Jeff’s voice—particularly the moments when he directly addresses readers—contribute to this representation of illness and disability?

What does cycling mean to Jeff? What role does it play in the narrative as a whole?

How does Cyrano de Bergerac illuminate Jeff’s story (e.g., the symbolism of the beau geste, Tad’s role, Jeff’s relationship with Lindsey, etc.)?