1. The beginning of the novel is very important (the X-rated movie). What is so shocking here? The graphic description of sex? Something else? Why does Ernaux say at the end of this: "It occurred to me that writing should also aim for that - the impression conveyed by sexual intercourse, a feeling of anxiety and stupefaction, a suspension of moral judgement"? How does this statement relate to what you think Ernaux attempts to do in the novel?
2. Describe the narrator's association with temporality. What does time signify for her? Does she live "in the present"? How does she treat the present, past and future? Why is this significant? How does this relate to her relationship with A? (Or, how does her relationship with time relate to the theme of presence / absence found within the novel?)
3. This is in large part a novel about writing. Notice the times in the novel where the narrator mentions the act of writing. Why write this novel? What does the narrator hope to accomplish? How might this relate to the notion of autobiography (we can assume that the narrator is Ernaux herself)?
4. Discuss the notion of gender in the novel. What images of the main characters (the narrator and A) do we have here? Do you see this as problematic? Is this a realistic portrayal of relationships? Is it too over the top, frustrating? Why? (Or, why would a supposedly "modern, enlightened and forward-thinking female writer" write such a novel that seems to portray women in a seemingly negative light?)
5. What does the title "Simple Passion" imply? What about "simple" and "passion" separately? How might these meanings relate to the text?
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