The Thirty Nine Steps

To what extent is the audience expected to believe that Hannay is, in fact, an “ordinary man”? Is he ordinary enough to be truly relatable or too good to be quite believable? Consider both the limitations he struggles with and the skills he possesses.

The novel was published in 1915, in the early years of WWI. In what ways does it reflect or express British attitudes at the time? Do its themes and preoccupations appear differently today, when the course and outcome of the war are known?

When does Buchan deploy dialect and to what effect? How does it contribute to the establishment of character, themes, setting, and other literary elements?

What role do natural settings play throughout the story? Do any moments highlight tone, mood, or setting more than others? Do Hannay’s attitudes toward the land shift through the story? If so, how and to what effect?

Though Scottish characters appear only in the backdrop of Hannay’s adventure, how does Buchan present them as a people? Both Hannay and Buchan had Scottish heritage but lived in England. How do author and character navigate these nationalities, and to what degree might they represent Scottish resilience?

Hannay meets multiple characters and takes on varying identities across the story. Yet each of the first seven chapters is named after a specific character. How does reading through the lenses of these title characters affect the interpretation of each chapter?

In Chapter 10, Hannay claims that he is skilled at interacting with people from other social classes, though he admits—humorously—that the middle class baffles him. Consider how the novel presents economic class. Does it treat each class with dignity or rely on stereotypes, condescension, or other prejudices?

In the context of literary movements, this novel falls between Realism, Romanticism, and Modernism. In what ways does it align with or subvert elements of those movements? In what ways does Buchan play into and play with established norms such as realistic characters, detailed settlings, and philosophical considerations?