The Transit of Venus

Shirley Hazzard

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1980

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Summary

Character Analysis

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 1, Chapters 1-13

Part 2, Chapters 14-22

Part 3, Chapters 23-28

Part 4, Chapters 29-37

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

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Discussion Questions

Essay Topics

Discuss Hazzard’s portrayal of the Bell sisters. To what extent does the narrative position Grace and Caro as opposites?

What role does Australia play in Hazzard’s novel? To what extent does Australia remain significant even as the sisters have begun their European lives?

What is the significance of clothing in Hazzard’s novel and how does it enrich characterization?