Erasure

What is Monk’s source of distress at the beginning of the novel? How does the source of his distress change as the novel progresses?

Describe Monk’s relationship to his family. Why are familial relations central in his journey as a character?

Why is Monk insecure about intimate and romantic relationships? How does his inability to form meaningful connections develop his character and reflect on his role as a writer?

Analyze how the novel explores the issue of racism in relation to literature and the publishing industry. Why does Monk state that he does not believe in race? How does this viewpoint affect his art?

Consider the novel’s exploration of the relationship between the author and the literary text. What does Monk’s writer persona reveal about authorship and the writing process? How does Stagg R. Leigh affect Monk’s relationship to literature?

Explain Monk’s rage over Jenkins’s popular novel. How does Monk’s satire respond to such narratives?

Compare and contrast the last scene of My Pafology with that of Erasure. Why does the author posit the characters against the camera? In what ways do the scenes relate to the book’s metafictional intentions?

How does Van Go Jenkins embody dominant stereotypes of Black masculinity? What is Monk’s intention in creating this character? What does it reveal about his artistic frustrations?