1. The rules posted on the cider house wall aren''t read or
understood by anyone living there except Mr. Rose, who makes -- and
breaks -- his own set of rules. What point is John Irving making
with the unread rules?
2. What rules, both written and unwritten, do other characters
follow in the novel? Did most characters violate their own rules?
Who stays the most true to his or her rules?
3. Dr. Larch makes the interesting statement that because women
don''t legally have the right to choose, Homer Wells does not have
a moral claim in choosing not to perform abortions. Do you find
Larch''s argument compelling? Do you think Homer was ultimately
convinced or that he needed an escape from Ocean View?
4. In order to set future events on what he believes to be the
correct path, Larch alters the history of the orphanage to create a
false heart murmur for Homer and changes various school transcripts
to create Dr. Fuzzy Stone. What other doctoring of history does
Larch do? Do you think Homer, as Dr. Fuzzy Stone, will continue the
tradition?
5. St. Cloud''s setting is grim, unadorned, and unhealthy, while
Ocean View is healthy, wide open, and full of opportunities. In
what ways do the settings of the orphanage and the orchards belie
their effect on their residents? What did you make of Homer
bringing the apple trees to St. Cloud''s?
6. As you were reading, what did you expect Melony to do to
Homer when she finally found him? Though Homer forgets about Melony
for many years, do you think she had more of an impact on his
future than Candy did?
7. Larch''s introduction to sex comes through a prostitute and
her daughter, and his introduction to abortion is given by the same
women. Sex with Melony, the picture of the pony, and abortions
performed by Larch introduces Homer to the same issues, yet Homer
doesn''t maintain sexual abstinence as Larch does. Why do you think
this is? Do you think Larch substitutes ether for sex?
8. Violence against women forms a thread throughout the novel;
Melony fights off apple pickers, Grace receives constant beatings
from her husband, and Rose Rose suffers incest. Does the author
seem to be making a connection between violence and sex? How do the
women''s individual responses to violence reflect their
personalities?
9. The issues of fatherhood are complex -- as seen in Larch''s
relation-ship with Homer, and Homer''s relationship with Angel --
but being a good father or good parent is stressed throughout.
According to the novel, what are some of the ingredients that make
a good father? Is truthfulness one of them?
10. Candy''s "wait and see" philosophy contrasts with Larch''s
constant tinkering with the future to suit his desires. Based on
his personality, is Homer better suited to waiting or to
working?
11. Herb Fowler''s sabotaged condoms are one example of how
people and rules in Ocean View are actually the opposite of what
they seem. What other examples can you recall?
12. Near the end, Homer''s meeting with Melony is a turning
point, spurring him to reveal the truth about Angel''s parentage
and to return to St. Cloud''s, where he can be "of use." While
reading, did you want to learn more about Melony''s adventures
during the intervening years or less? Which character do you think
drove the novel''s momentum?
13. If you saw the film adaptation of The Cider House
Rules, discuss the aspects of the story that you think
were stronger in the novel, and the portions of the film that were
especially potent. What are your feelings about film adaptations of
novels in general, and about the adaptation of this novel in
particular?
14. What did you find to be particularly effective or well done
in Irving''s writing? If you''ve read other Irving novels, name
some of the themes that he carries over from novel to novel.