ENG 4U
FIFTH BUSINESS: Study Questions
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PART 1: “Mrs. Dempster”
1. Explain the circumstances leading up to the birth of Paul Dempster, and describe the apparent
characters of the young Dunstan and Percy from the snowball incident and its aftermath.
2. Why is Dunstan Ramsey writing this report and to whom is it addressed? What information does
Ramsey reveal about himself by recounting the farewell piece in the “College Chronicle”? What role
does he see himself as having in life?
3. Describe Dunstan’s (a) family, and (b) village.
4. Describe and analyze Dunstan’s relationship with his mother.
5. Describe Mary Dempster (as portrayed in Chapter 5).
6. Describe (a) Percy Boyd Staunton, (b) Leola Cruikshank, and (c) Milo Papple (Chapter 6).
7. What new interest captivates Dunstan?
8. What does he learn from his mother in Chapter 7?
9. What does he teach Paul in Chapter 8?
10. Why is Dunstan banished by Amasa Dempster? (Chapter 9)
11. Describe the episode that precipitated Mary Dempster’s second miracle, and what was that miracle?
12. How did this incident affect the Dempsters and the other villagers? How did it affect Dunny?
13. Discuss Dunstan’s attitude towards (a) sex, (b) Mrs. Dempster, and (c) religion.
PART 2: “I Am Born Again”
14. Summarize Dunstan’s war experience. What were his two principal emotions during the war?
15. Describe Dunstan’s attitude towards the Bible in general, and towards the Old and New Testaments
in particular (Chapter 1).
16. Describe Dunstan’s act of ‘heroism’ in battle and the “third miracle” (Chapter 2).
17. Describe Dunstan’s relationship with Diana Marfleet.
18. How is the theme of appearance versus reality reinforced in Chapter 5?
19. How was Diana Marfleet “a very educative experience” for Dunny? Why did he decline to marry
her?
20. How did Dunstan get his name? Explain the religious significance (Chapter 6)
21. What has transpired during Dunstan’s absence regarding (a) Percy, (b) Leola, and (c) the
Dempster’s?
PART 3: “My Fool-Saint”
22. Describe the university careers of Dunstan and Boy (Percy).
23. What are the two realities as seen by Dunstan and Boy? (Chapter 1)
24. Describe the Reverend George Leadbeater and his influence on Boy, with particular reference to his
view of Jesus Christ (Chapter 3).
25. Describe Dunstan’s new interest and his view of religion (Chapter 4).
26. Describe Joel Surgeoner and his mission.
27. What was Mrs. Dempster’s “first miracle”?
28. What lesson does Surgeoner teach Dunstan about parable and fact? Why does he call Dunstan
cruel? (Chapter 6)
29. Describe the key events in Dunstan’s return to Deptford.
30. What is a ‘fool-saint’?
31. Describe St. Uncumber and relate her history (Chapter 9). Show her connection with one of the
key archetypes.
32. What are the circumstances surrounding Dunstan’s encounter with Paul Dempster in this chapter?
33. Comment on Paul’s attitude towards his past.
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PART 4: “Gyges and King Candaules”
34. Explain the meaning (allusion) of the title of this part of the novel.
35. Boy is very successful economically and socially; however, he is not completely happy. Elaborate.
36. Davies develops Dunny’s character by contrasting him with Boy. Give proof of this.
37. What is Boy’s motive (deliberate or otherwise) in the photograph episode?
38. Describe the relationship between Boy and Leola, and show how it connects with Dunstan.
39. Explain how Ramsey becomes Mrs. Dempster’s guardian.
40. Identify: a) The Bollandists; b) Acta Sanctorum; and c) Analecta (Chapter 3)
41. Describe Padre Blazon (Chapter 3). What does he teach Ramsey about saints and the suppression
of their desires, and about the ‘shadow self’?
42. What is the “reality of the soul”? (Chapter 3)
43. Explain Blazon’s ideas about: a) miracles; b) truth; c) Ramsey; and d) his own ‘shadow’.
44. Davies parallels Boy Staunton’s life with the person after whom Boy has ‘modeled’ himself: HRH the
Prince of Wales, now King Edward. Explain this parallel.
PART 5: “Liesl”
45. a) What happens to Boy in WWII? (Chapter 1)
b) What happens to Ramsey in WWII?
46. What does Ramsey believe is the value of miracles? What questions does he raise about people
and miracles? (Chapter 2)
47. Describe how Ramsey meets Paul again and Ramsey’s reaction to him. (Chapter 2)
48. Who is Faustina? Link her with an archetype. (Chapter 2)
49. How does Magnus Eisengrim’s magic show performance emphasize, or dramatize, a major theme in
the novel? How is it linked with religion?
50. Describe Liesl. What does she ask Ramsey, and why does it appeal to him?
51. Dunny realizes his character is changing for the worse. Outline the changes and offer an
explanation for them. (Chapter 4)
52. In Chapter 5, Davies provides the reader with a humorous episode and then Liesl gives Dunny
advice. Outline Liesl’s assessment of Dunny and her advice to him.
PART 6: “The Soirée of Illusions”
53. Identify irony in Chapter 1.
54. Davies introduces the reader to another strong, determined woman, Denyse Hornick. What
purpose does she serve in the novel?
55. Give evidence from Chapter 3 that Boy is spiritually empty.
56. Early in the novel, Dunny says “A boy is a man in miniature.” How are the adult Boy and Dunny
similar to their boyhood characters? (Refer in particular to Part 6, Chapter 3)
57. Describe Ramsey’s thoughts and behaviour in the funeral parlour. (Chapter 4)
58. What does Ramsey realize in his last visit with Blazon? “Who” else does he find on this trip?
(Chapter 5)
59. In Chapter 7, when the three Deptfordians are together in Dunny’s apartment, there seems to be a
tension between Boy and Eisengrim (Paul Dempster). Offer an explanation for this “game of
topping each other” as Dunny calls it.
60. Explain how Boy Staunton dies (figuratively and literally).
61. (a) Explain the riddle-like answer given by the Brazen Head regarding who killed Boy. To whom
does each line seem to refer?
(b) Why does Davies end the novel with a riddle?