1. BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY’S Truman Capote

2. CHARACTERISTICS OF HOLLY Conceited, Well-known, Pretty, Double-sided (honest vs. dishonest), Opinionated, Unstable/Inconsistent, Manipulative, Restless, Forward yet Aloof, Artistic, Paranoid yet Careless

3. CHARACTERS  Holly Golightly  “Fred” (narrator)  Real Fred …  Mag Wildwood  Doc Golightly  Jose  Rusty Trawler  Sally Tomato  Joe Bell  O.J. Berman

4. HOLLY GOLIGHTLY  Pg. 14 – Hooker?  Pg. 20 – Paradox  Why do you think Holly individually invited over so many men, without letting them know about the others invited?  What did Holly mean when she asked the men “You’d think it would show more. But heaven knows, she looks healthy…. wouldn’t you say she looked clean?” about Mag Wildwood?

5. HOLLY GOLIGHTLY  She seems to not mind being labeled ‘nuts’  Could this be a defense mechanism? A way to create distance? Or is she really that accepting about her potential mental conditions?  If you had to diagnose her with a condition, what would it be?  Do you think she really ever wanted to be famous? (pg. 31)

6. HOLLY GOLIGHTLY  Pg. 52 & 56 The birdcage  Do you think her opposition to cages reflects something deeper?  Why do you think she wears such dark, thick-rimmed glasses?  What do you think is the significance of make-up? (Pg. 93)  Which quirk of Holly’s did you find most interesting? (Lying, stealing, casual $ex, renaming the narrator after her brother, etc.)

7. HOLLY GOLIGHTLY  Were you surprised when you finally discovered her background/past (Tulip, Texas)?  Why do you think she chose to change her first name, but keep her last?  Do you think she really did not know about her purpose for telling Sally the ‘weather reports’?  Why do you think she never sent a permanent address after her postcard?

8. THE NARRATOR: “FRED”  Why do you think he is so drawn to her and continues being her friend even when they disagree?  Why doesn’t he ever tell her his real name?  Do you think if he were really in love with her, he would/should have tried harder to stop her from leaving?

9. PERSPECTIVES  What did you think was going to happen when Doc showed up in New York?  Did you think Holly had married Trawler?  What did you (initially) think the violent scene in her apartment was about?  Did your perspective of Holly change when her brother died? “‘He’s the only one would ever let me. Let me hug him on cold nights,” (pg. 74).

10. SYMBOLISM/THEMES  Ownership/belonging (traveling, birdcage, the cat)  Karma – pg. 79  Phony pg. 29

11. CAPOTE’S UNDERLYING MESSAGES  Homosexuality  Pg. 9-10 (mid-life crisis?)  Alcohol/drug use pg. 37  Perry & Dick (anxiety & manipulation)  Who do you think he would identify with the most?  Who do you think he wants you to pity the most?

12. GREY AREAS  Joe Bell’s constant chewing on Tums  Jose’s fear of having his name associated w/ crime  Jose’s cousin’s pronoun usage  “So: the diplomat was planning a powder.” (pg. 91)  Holly being pregnant with Jose’s baby /miscarriage?  Hospital room “I lost the heir” ???  Pg. 95  “Mean reds” & “Fat woman” pg. 92