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The Adventures of Augie March Study Guide

by Saul Bellow

The Adventures of Augie March study guide contains a biography of Saul Bellow, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

Augie March is a Jewish-American boy growing up fatherless and poor in Depression-era Chicago. He seeks a "special destiny", although his circumstances seem to position him for a uniquely disappointing life: his family consists of a simple-minded mother, a brother and "grandmother" who prove to be Machiavellian in their intentions, and an "idiot" youngest brother, Georgie.

In the absence of the father, Grandma Lausch offers Augie and his brother, Simon, lessons in how to survive and succeed. She teaches them first and foremost that respect is superior to love. After some time, Grandma Lausch suggests that the family place Georgie into a home for the impaired. The shock of losing Georgie, an embodiment of pure love, destabilizes the very…

Read the full The Adventures of Augie March Summary

• The Adventures of Augie March Summary
• About The Adventures of Augie March
• Character List
• Glossary of Terms
• Major Themes
• Summary and Analysis of Chapters 1-4
• Summary and Analysis of Chapters 5-7
• Summary and Analysis of Chapters 8-11
• Summary and Analysis of Chapters 12-15
• Summary and Analysis of Chapters 16-19
• Summary and Analysis of Chapters 20-23
• Summary and Analysis of Chapters 24-26
• Heraclitus
• Related Links on The Adventures of Augie March
• Suggested Essay Questions
• Test Yourself! - Quiz 1
• Test Yourself! - Quiz 2
• Test Yourself! - Quiz 3
• Test Yourself! - Quiz 4
• Author of ClassicNote and Sources

• The Adventures of Augie March: Major Themes
• The Adventures of Augie March: Questions
• The Adventures of Augie March: Purchase the Novel and Related Material
• Saul Bellow: Biography