TGD Chapter 1: The Bus Stop in the Gray Town
Chapter Quote
“And just as the evening never advanced to night, so my
walking never brought me to the better parts of the town.”
Chapter Summary
The chapter begins with Lewis wandering
through a dimly lit town at dusk. The town is deserted except for a group of
people waiting at a bus stop. Several people eventually leave the queue. First,
a quarreling couple leaves the queue. Next, a Short Man states that he is too
good for the people in the queue and is immediately punched by a Big Man. The
Short Man limps away. An Androgynous Couple also leave the queue arm in arm. A
woman is cheated out of her place after attempting to buy a spot closer to the
front. The bus arrives; driven by a man “full of light” whom the people
immediately begin criticizing. On the bus, Lewis is joined by a tousle-headed
youth who attempts to share some of his writing. Immediately, the bus ascends
from the ground and begins flying above the Gray Town.
Key Characters:
Lewis (narrator)Discussion Questions:
- What words would you use to describe The Gray Town?
- What do you make of the different members of the queue? The quarreling couple, The Short Man, The Big Man, the Androgynous Couple, the woman who pays to change places with the man who cheats her
- In what way do the characters in the line each display one of the Seven Deadly Sins?
- In what ways are the members of the bus stop similar? In what ways are they different from each other?
- Why do you think the line for the bus is so short? Why do people so easily leave the line?
- Why do you think the members of the queue react so badly to the driver?
- Do you think the tousle-headed youth represents anyone in particular?
- Why does the tousle-headed youth think that the others would be happier staying in the town?
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