Under the Volcano

Discuss the ways in which Malcolm Lowry depicts intoxication in the narrative style of the Consul’s chapters. What literary devices does he use and how are they able to mimic intoxication?

Popocatepetl and Ixtaccihuatl are the two volcanoes that overlook the town of Quauhnahuac in Under the Volcano and are featured prominently in the novel. What do they represent and how do they help the characters process their conflicting feelings?

Under the Volcano is an expansion of an earlier short story written by Malcolm Lowry. In that short story, Yvonne is the Consul’s daughter and Hugh is her fiancé. Although this changes in the novel, what legacy of the short story can be found in the characters’ relationships with each other?

The horse branded with a number seven appears frequently in the novel, playing an important part in the characters’ day. Discuss what you believe the horse represents and what you believe to be the significance of the number seven branded on its side.

One of the primary themes of the Under the Volcano is the Universe’s Indifference to Humans. Identify another modernist novel, short story, or poem, and compare how each explores this theme.

Under the Volcano is full of symbolism and motifs, with the same images appearing frequently throughout the novel. Identify one such symbol or motif not included in the guide and discuss its importance to the themes of the novel.

Allusions to mythology and classical works are a prominent feature of Under the Volcano. Choose one such allusion, research the story, and then analyze its place in the novel. Discuss the ways in which it connects with the Consul’s story and its overall use to developing the plot.

The sign that the Consul finds in his garden that reads “¿LE GUSTA ESTE JARDÍN?” is one of the more prominent images of Under the Volcano, and some scholars have identified it as a precursor to the climate change debate now raging. Are there connections between the themes of Under the Volcano and the climate crisis? If so, what influence do these connections have on the characters?