The Elegance of the Hedgehog

Compare the two narrative voices in the novel. What are the similarities and differences between these points of view? Why include both voices?

Why does Renée assume that her employers don’t want to know about her intellectualism? Why does Renée want to protect her intellectualism? Analyze the significance of Renée’s secret passion for philosophy, art, and literature.

Write an analysis on Paloma’s character development in the context of her relationship with her family. For the majority of the novel, how does she view her family? By the end of the novel, what has she discovered about her family? How does her relationship with her family inform her characterization and character development?