40 pages • 1 hour read
Dorothy L. SayersThe Nine Tailors
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1934A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Essay Topics
What does the title The Nine Tailors mean in terms of change ringing? How does this musical composition relate to the book’s plot?
Discuss the various methods used to control water flow in the fens. Does dredging have more than one meaning in the story?
Describe the role of letters as clues in the novel. Are they helpful or unhelpful?
Wimsey seems ambivalent about his role in solving the novel’s central crime for a few different reasons. Why is this?
What role do church bells play in the story? What do they symbolize?
Hilary’s uncle would prevent her from going to college. Why? How does this relate to the author’s personal experience?
In the process of committing crimes, several characters also commit sacrilege. Think of three examples. Describe the acts of sacrilege and their consequences.
On multiple occasions, water is used providentially to further the cause of justice. Describe how it guides Wimsey’s actions.
Discuss the role that Venables plays in advancing the plot.
Deacon has succeeded in thwarting the law on several occasions. Give examples. Contrast his experiences with human law and divine justice.
