Discussion Questions On Dysart's 'Equus'
Madison Deller
AP Literature
2nd period
Equus
Discussion Questions
1. Scene I: In Dysart’s opening monologue, he make a comparison between himself and a horse’s head. What is the purpose of this metaphor? How does this comparison give us insight into his Dysart’s character?
The purpose of this metaphor is to show the reader that Dysart has become trapped by his education and knowledge of the world. This gives us insight to Dysart’s characters because the reader can see his struggle with life and his job after this case. When Dysart compares himself to the horse’s head the reader can see how Dysart’s job is in control of him when it should be the other way around.
2. Scene II: “Some days I blame Hester. She brought him to me. …show more content…
Alan honestly believes that these animals are God and they can see whatever he does. Alan will beat himself for his God like Jesus was beaten when he was crucified. These quotes show us how intensely Alan has lost himself within his religion as well as his obsession with horses.
15. "We were brisk in our wooing, brisk in our wedding, brisk in our disappointment" (Shafer 57) Explain how Dysart's marriage is his "maximum vulnerability".
Dysart’s marriage is his maximum vulnerability because his wife and he went too quickly to the point where they did not know each other enough. Before he married her did not see that she was ‘worshipless’ something he hates most ardently about her. Dysart does not see the passion and love that he once did when he ‘briskly wooed her’ or when they were ‘brisk’ in their ‘wedding’. When Alan starts talking about Dysart’s wife, Dysart becomes substantially angry because it reminds him of someone that he generally wishes was not his wife.
16. "Life is only comprehensible through a thousand local Gods...I'd say to them-'worship as many as you can see and more will appear" how does scene 18 show Alan's influence on
AP Literature
2nd period
Equus
Discussion Questions
1. Scene I: In Dysart’s opening monologue, he make a comparison between himself and a horse’s head. What is the purpose of this metaphor? How does this comparison give us insight into his Dysart’s character?
The purpose of this metaphor is to show the reader that Dysart has become trapped by his education and knowledge of the world. This gives us insight to Dysart’s characters because the reader can see his struggle with life and his job after this case. When Dysart compares himself to the horse’s head the reader can see how Dysart’s job is in control of him when it should be the other way around.
2. Scene II: “Some days I blame Hester. She brought him to me. …show more content…
Alan honestly believes that these animals are God and they can see whatever he does. Alan will beat himself for his God like Jesus was beaten when he was crucified. These quotes show us how intensely Alan has lost himself within his religion as well as his obsession with horses.
15. "We were brisk in our wooing, brisk in our wedding, brisk in our disappointment" (Shafer 57) Explain how Dysart's marriage is his "maximum vulnerability".
Dysart’s marriage is his maximum vulnerability because his wife and he went too quickly to the point where they did not know each other enough. Before he married her did not see that she was ‘worshipless’ something he hates most ardently about her. Dysart does not see the passion and love that he once did when he ‘briskly wooed her’ or when they were ‘brisk’ in their ‘wedding’. When Alan starts talking about Dysart’s wife, Dysart becomes substantially angry because it reminds him of someone that he generally wishes was not his wife.
16. "Life is only comprehensible through a thousand local Gods...I'd say to them-'worship as many as you can see and more will appear" how does scene 18 show Alan's influence on