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Ann Beattie, "Janus"

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Re-Reading Questions

Text on p. 280 of the full Ninth Edition and p. 280 of the shorter Eight Edition.

Re-Reading Questions

1. What does the bowl symbolize to you now about Andrea and her state of mind? Describe it physically in as much detail as possible. How breakable is it? How breakable is she? Pay special attention to the final paragraph:

Time passed. Alone in the living room at night, she often looked at the bowl sitting on the table, still and safe, unilluminated. In its way, it was perfect: the world cut in half, deep and smoothly empty. Near the rim, even in dim light, the eye moved toward one small flash of blue, a vanishing point on the horizon.

How does this characterization of the bowl bring to a kind of symbolic climax all that has been associated with it previously?

2. The title of the story, "Janus," is puzzling because it does not appear in the story directly. Read the descriptions of the Roman god Janus found on the "Related Links" page. How do words like "duplicitous," "two-faced," and "doorway" help you understand the story? How do these relate to the frequent mention of "tricks"? Is Andrea trying to "trick" herself in any way?

3. Try writing an additional paragraph to the story that shows what you think might happen next.

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