With their formal and thematic emphasis on the inevitability of interconnectedness in the lives of the central characters, the stories in The Beggar Maid provide excellent opportunities for discussion of character development. A good line to pursue, for instance, is to examine how the events and experiences of Rose's past bear on her life as she matures and whether readers believe Munro's assertion of the strength of these past connections.

This is an assertion that, in one sense, raises an interesting challenge to the western cultural belief that through hard work and dedication anyone can achieve success in any area of endeavor they choose to focus on.

The book also reflects Munro's attention to recurring patterns of image, motif, and theme, especially as they are revealed in the lives of her female characters. Groups may begin by discussing, for example, the patterns Munro establishes to emphasize...