In Howards End, there is a division between the urban characters and those from the suburbs or the country. Write an essay discussing the differences between these characters and how Forster's treatment of these characters may reflect his own views of city versus country life. Consider these questions:

- Are some characters considered more up to date and modern than others?

- Does the character's specific location in reference to the land endow him or her with a different kind of knowledge in Forster's view?

- If so, what are these different kinds of knowledge?

- How does being situated in an urban or rural landscape change how the character moves about in society?

- Do some of the characters move easily from one locale to the next?

- Do other characters have trouble negotiating the change from urban to rural and vise versa?

You should pick at least three characters to compare and contrast.

Essay Topic 2

In Chapter 26, when Helen brings the Basts to Evie's wedding, the issue of class differences becomes unavoidable. Write an essay discussing how class affects the characters of Howards End, providing examples from the text. Choose at least three characters to analyze and compare and contrast each with the others.

Essay Topic 3

The point of view, or the narrative voice, determines how the reader will experience a novel. Write an essay discussing the narrative voice in Howards End, describing how the narration affects the reader. Think about these questions as you shape your essay:

- Can you trust the narrator?

- Does the narrator seem reliable or trustworthy?

- Is the narrator a character in the story or an omniscient narrator outside the story?

- If the narrator is not a character in the story, how would the novel be different if the narrator were one of the characters?

(see the answer keys)

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