Neverwhere

As in many classics like Inferno, The Descent of Innana, and Alice in Wonderland, Neverwhere features a protagonist on a journey through an underworld that is both familiar and confusing. While there, he gathers important knowledge about himself and the world. How does the world of London Below help Richard come to a deeper and better understanding of his world and reality as a whole? Use these points in formulating a response.

• What key similarities and differences exist between the settings of London Above and London Below? What do they reveal about reality, human society, or human nature?
• What trials await Richard in London Below, and what does he learn in overcoming them? Could he have learned the same things in London Above? Explain.
• What rules, values, or norms govern the world of London Above that do not apply in London Below? What might this reveal to Richard about the rules, values, and norms that guided him all his life? Which of these serve Richard in his experiences, and which do not?
• What secrets and truths does Richard bring back with him from London Below? How do they impact his attitudes and decisions in his new life in London Above?
• In most classic epics, the hero does not return to the underworld after overcoming the trials and taking their reward.