The Man Who Lived Underground

Fiction | Short Story | Adult | Published in 1942

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Essay Topics

How would you describe the narrative voice of “The Man Who Lived Underground” and how does it affect your understanding of the story?

Fred seems to grow aware of certain truths about the world while he’s underground. Why can’t he articulate them? Would it make any difference to the aboveground world if he could?

What is the significance of the movie theater Fred visits? What lesson does he draw there? Why does Wright include this scene in the story?