“Foxes” Questions

Pre-reading

 1. What purpose do masks serve?

 2. Think about animals in various cultures and religions. How are animals often viewed?
What connections might exist between animals and humans?

 3. Consider the image of the fox. Create a list of words describing the animal. Is there a
common theme that comes across based on these words?
“Foxes” by Timothy Findley
Group Discussion

1. Develop a character sketch of Morris Glendenning based on his personality. (2

marks)
* What conflict is he facing?
(1 mark)

2. Why is Morris Glendenning ​fascinated by the masks? (1 mark)

* What does he learn from his ​experience with them? (1 mark)
* How is he changed by it?
(1 mark)

3. What comment does the story offer about society? (1 mark)

* What outlook on life does it present? (1 mark)
* Use details from the story to support your answers
(2 marks)
To be handed in:

 1. Do you feel that the writer has provided a sense of conclusion to the end of the story? Explain your
answer. (1 marks)

 2. Are you satisfied with the ending? Why or why not? (1 marks)
3. There are many contrasts/juxtapositions in the story:

a. Morris is a communications expert who is private and rarely speaks.

b. the stories and symbols of both Japanese and Western cultures.

c. the feelings of "alone"ness that is throughout the story and the explanation of people's need for one another.

d. the less pleasant "muskiness" of the mask's initial smell and the warmly satisfying "scent of earth".

e. the sense of danger Morris seems to suffer and the feeling of safety when the masks seem to smile.

f. the long italicized passage and the observations he makes leading up to his interaction with the masks.

*Select two of the above issues and discuss how ironic the contrasts are. (4 marks)