Old Books, New Readers discussion

Hello, everyone!

This topic is about:

The Window: Chapters XI-XIX

Some questions for us to discuss:

1. You will notice many references to preceding works of art and philosophy. How does Woolf play with these references and to what effect?

2. The novel lingers on the creation of art and knowledge. How do different characters participate in creation and how might we define "art"? What is the role of art in life?

3. How does the novel work as autobiography? What character or characters seem to reflect Woolf's own experience? How does the novel work as a fictionalized presentation of an artist?

4. What do the lighthouse and the journey to it seem to symbolize? Are these meanings consistent throughout the text or do they shift, and if so how?

5. Try to track the reappearance of objects (perhaps the house or windows), symbols (triangles come to mind), and language ("yes"). What are the relationships among objects, words and certain characters?

6. How do the characters' actions as well as their thoughts relate to distance and boundaries? How does Woolf use descriptions of spaces and rooms?

7. Mrs. Ramsay's dinner party provides insight into Woolf's ambitions for this novel, for women, and for art. Is this meal a metaphor? Compare it to other representations of meals you have encountered. What does this meal tell us about Mrs. Ramsay?

Source: University of Stanford, Great Works in Dialogue

I don't seem to be able to answer many of the above questions although I feel I understand each characters viewpoints and roles in the family and friendly or antagonistic relationships.
I don't understand what the trip to the lighthouse represents(?)
I understand the opposite roles of women in their society as represented by Mrs. Ramsey - the wife and Lily who wants to have a life independent of a man.
Art, literature and music was all the entertainment available to people in this time period, so obviously they serve as a means of expression, communication and life value for some characters.
Sometimes I like to just read for the enjoyment and not dig too deep into all the complicated sybolism

I am just really happy to have gotten to this point. I am having such a hard time powering thorough this one.

As far a I can tell Woolf seems to praise women and denounce men a bit. I am not super fond of Mrs. Ramsey at this point and sort of agree almost with Charles Tamsley's views of everyone.