Wild Strawberries

Discussion Questions

pp. 23-55

Please compose your own substantive responses to the questions below. No length requirement. Print out the responses and bring them to class

I. Dr. Borg’s first dream: Pick a few elements of the dream (e.g., the handless clock, the coffin, the empty street) and decide, based on your reading thus far, what the dream elements convey to us about the inner and outer life of Dr. Borg?

The dream:

Empty streets, lost

Clock without hands, watch without hands

Heart beating

Faceless man, closed eyes and mouth, falls to the ground

Now the clock strikes

Carriage with coffin, broken wheel

Squeaking like a baby, rocking

Open coffin, himself inside it, begins to pull him in

II. Events remembered at the summer villa (the incident in the strawberry patch and the dinner): what broader significance do they have for Borg’s life?

III. Passengers on the road trip:

a. Marianne: How does Marianne feel about Borg and why? What does she want from him?

b. Sara and friends: Why do you think Bergman introduced this group of travelers into the story?