1. A cedar box, a diary, a green dress, a scarecrow - examine
MacDonald''s use of repeated imagery in her exploration of family
history. Are her interpretations of memory intended to be
naturalistic? How does this square with her use of the spiritual
life in this novel? What, for example, does Ambrose ''mean'' to
Lily and Francis, and why does Pete haunt Kathleen?
2. Examine your sympathies with the family members of this book.
Does the author manipulate or confuse the alliances of the reader?
How does she handle revelation? Try to define the way in which the
narrator relates to the reader. The internal logic of the book is
also defined by the ways in which the characters ''decide'' to
interpret each others'' behaviour - are you surprised by the shifts
in allegiance throughout the book - where does the force for these
changes come from?
3. ''That night, the Virgin Mary tells her what to do.'' (p.561)
Could you have predicted the course of Mercedes'' life? What do you
take MacDonald to mean in her use of religion to shape Mercedes,
and what do you understand about Mercedes from the ways in which
she chooses to respond to events? How closely do the sisters mirror
each others'' behaviour?
4. ''The knowledge that it is to be a coloured child is most
useful in determining its future. First of all, there is now no
question of keeping it. Illegitimacy is a terrible but invisible
blot, whereas miscegenation cannot be concealed.'' (p.393) The book
addresses several major themes of conflict in the 20th Century -
racial strife and inequality, sexuality, religious oppression and
belief, poverty. Is MacDonald successful in her integration of such
powerful topics into this intimate family history? What methods
does she use to sustain the pace of the narrative throughout the
560-odd pages of the book? Some of the revelations of the character
make for uncomfortable reading - is the author consciously trying
to alienate the reader, shock them? If so, is she successful, and
why do you think she adopted this approach?
5. ''Frances''s eyes burst open. She had a dream about Trixie
just now.'' (p.373) As a plot device, what function does Trixie
serve?
6. Frances manifests a particularly brittle variety of humour
and resilience. Compare her responses to ''damage'' with those of
her sisters, mother and father. What do you consider Frances''s
principal motivations to be, and to what use has the author put
these, in her construction of this book? What do you consider the
author intends us to understand from her use of illness and
affliction in this book?
7. How do you interpret the ''visions'' and ''intuition'' of the
sisters towards each other? What do you consider MacDonald is
interested in exploring by this added dimension to the story? Do
you think our understanding of the personal histories is intended
to change our perception of the ''public'' record of War history in
Fall On Your Knees? Which characters constitute
the most obvious links between the private and public?
8. ''The cave mind has entered into a creative collaboration
with the voluntary mind, and soon the two of them will cocoon
memory in a spinning wealth of dreams and yarns and
fingerpaintings.'' (p.151) Memory and its reinvention are central
to the sisters'' survival techniques in the book; how does the
structure of the book assist in our understanding of this?
9. Do the histories, for example, of prohibition, or the miners
strikes, serve as functional plot devices or as a metaphor?
10. How precisely imagined is this book? How important is this
in the revelation of plot? Consider the book in relation to linear
time. How much is this book about Kathleen''s history, and how does
our understanding of the circumstances of her life reflect on our
reading of other characters?
11. Compare the symbolism of this book with the magic realism of
Rushdie or Márquez. How does your understanding of ''magic
realism'' inform your reading of this work, if at all?
12. Consider the roles of Mrs. and Ralph Luvovitz, Leo Taylor,
Theresa, Hector and Adelaide, and what light their interior life
sheds on that of the Pipers. How does Frances compare with Theresa?
Attempt to describe the relationship between the two. Which
characters do you consider to be least successful in the story?
13. What do you take the meaning of the title of the book to be?
How do the chapter headings, along with the quotes and passages
that preface each section of the book serve to enhance your
reading?
14. ''Frances has recently revealed a natural talent in the
kitchen. She cooks and cooks. Roasts and curries, stews and
casseroles. It''s mystifying. Frances is like one of those strange
persons who awake one morning and play the complete works of Bach
with never a lesson.'' (p.429) Discuss the roles of books, clothes,
music and food in Fall On Your Knees. How many
central themes are explored using these symbols?
15. Do you think that the ''real'' aspects of the novel -
MacDonald''s powerful evocation of the trenches, for example -
change the way in which we view the fictional lives she explores?
Does the juxtaposition of ''known'' history give more weight to the
author''s intent?