The Monk: A Romance

The opening chapter of The Monk includes a description of Don Lorenzo’s dream in the Church of the Capuchins. Analyze how this dream foreshadows later events while establishing some of the novel’s key themes.

In what ways do the characters in The Monk cross gender boundaries? How does Lewis portray deviations from gender norms in the novel?

Several characters in The Monk criticize religious “superstitions” as false and irrational. At the same time, the novel is full of supernatural happenings. Write an essay comparing “superstition” with the supernatural in The Monk.