Everything, Everything & Proust Questionnaire When French author Marcel Proust was a teenager, a friend asked him to answer a series of questions. He answered the same questions again when he was twenty. The Proust questionnaire later became a popular tool in magazine interviews (such as those seen in Vanity Fair). You are going to fill out the Proust questionnaire twice. First from the perspective of a character from Everything, Everything, and secondly from the perspective of another. For example, you may answer from the point of view of Maddy and then from Olly. Other characters you could write as include: Pauline (Maddy’s mom), Carla, Olly’s dad, Kara, or Olly’s mom. This close reading exercise acts as a springboard for discussion on characterization. It also allows you to imagine the desires and motivations of each character. Proust Questionnaire #1 Character: __________________ What is your idea of perfect happiness? Which historical figure do you most identify with? Which living person do you most admire? What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? What is the trait you most deplore in others? What is your greatest extravagance? What do you consider the most overrated virtue? On what occasion do you lie? What is your greatest regret? When and where are you happiest? What do you consider your greatest achievement? If you could choose to come back as something, what would it be? What is your most treasured possession? Where would you like to live? What is your favorite occupation? What is your most marked characteristic? What do you most value in your friends? Who are your favorite writers? Who are your heroes in real life? How would you like to die? What is your motto? Proust Questionnaire #2 Character: __________________ What is your idea of perfect happiness? Which historical figure do you most identify with? Which living person do you most admire? What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? What is the trait you most deplore in others? What is your greatest extravagance? What do you consider the most overrated virtue? On what occasion do you lie? What is your greatest regret? When and where are you happiest? What do you consider your greatest achievement? If you could choose to come back as something, what would it be? What is your most treasured possession? Where would you like to live? What is your favorite occupation? What is your most marked characteristic? What do you most value in your friends? Who are your favorite writers? Who are your heroes in real life? How would you like to die? What is your motto?
