2. Gordimer believes that fiction, as opposed to daily newscasts, can deal with "how people's lives are affected permanently." Does your own experience of news coverage and fiction support this claim? What kinds of insight into South African life does Gordimer's short story collection convey?

3. Gordimer in her fiction writes from inside the consciousness of characters who are white, black, Indian, male, female. Today, groups are objecting to being portrayed by someone outside their group. How do you feel about this issue?

4. "I have never allowed myself to write propaganda, however strongly I have felt for the people on my side," states Gordimer. How may a strongly committed literature such as Gordimer's be distinguished from propaganda?

5. Some critics have complained that Gordimer's writing seems controlled by an authorial "ought " of what her readers' attitude is supposed to be--in other words that she does not expect readers to make up their own minds. Did you ever have such an impression?