Michiel Heyns’ novel The Children’s Day is available now. Below are some discussion questions–for bookgroups, classrooms, or just your personal edification. If you have any thoughts or feelings, please post them below…
- The novel’s title is derived from the Robert Graves poem “The Cool Web,” reprinted in the book. Discuss ways in which the poem might be relevant to the book.
- Graves says, “There’s a cool web of language winds us in, / Retreat from too much joy or to much fear.” To what extent does this apply to Simon’s use of language? How does Fanie relate to this theme?
- Still on language: discuss the role of categorization and classification (or, more simply, naming) in the various episodes of the novel. Can you relate it to the novel’s setting, in apartheid South Africa?
- Although the novel is told from a child’s point of view, the narrator is clearly an adult. What kind of adult does Simon seem to have grown up into?
- In her introduction to the novel, A. L. Kennedy calls Simon an “honestly flawed personality.” What are his flaws? Does he ever overcome them?
- Why do you think Fanie accuses Simon of having caused his epileptic seizure (chapter one)?
- Simon may be said to suffer a series of betrayals at the hand of adults. Discuss these, and their effect on Simon.
- Compare Steve (chapter two) and Simon’s “stranger” (chapter nine) from the point of view of child molestation. What are the similarities and differences?
- Thematically, what is the significance of Fanie’s “fits”? How do they relate to the theme of language? What is it about Fanie that so irritates Simon?
- Is it helpful to think of the novel as depicting a series of relationships in each of which we may identify a victim and an aggressor/perpetrator? If so, who, in each instance, is victim and who is aggressor? Is Simon most a victim or most an aggressor?
- Discuss the depiction of women in the novel: consider, for instance, Simon’s mother, Mrs. Vermaak (Klasie’s mother), Juliana, and Betty the Exchange. Would it be fair to say that in this society the women seem firmer of purpose than the men?
- Discuss the ending of the novel. To what extent does it resolve themes explored in the rest of the novel? Can you explain Simon’s final gesture? What would he mean by “dumb absolution”?
