Cathedral

Fiction | Short Story Collection | Adult | Published in 1983

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Cathedral

Genre: Fiction; short stories; contemporary
Originally Published: 1983
Reading Level/Interest: Grades college/adult
Structure/Length: Collection of 12 short stories; approximately 230 pages; audiobook duration approximately 7 hours and 16 minutes
Protagonist/Central Conflict: Each short story in Cathedral features different protagonists dealing with everyday life and complex human relationships. The title story, “Cathedral,” specifically focuses on a narrator's interaction with a blind man, challenging his preconceptions and leading to an epiphany about connection and understanding.
Potential Sensitivity Issues: Themes of alcohol addiction; marital strife; racist language; isolation; everyday tragedies; subtle exploration of human flaws and redemption
This TG uses a first edition hardback copy (second printing) 0 1152 1688931 7

Raymond Carver, Author

Bio: Born 1938; died 1988; renowned for his short stories; major figure in the revival of the American short story in literature in the 1980s; style characterized by minimalism and a focus on working-class life; writing often explores the complexities of human relationships and the challenges of everyday life
Other Works: Will You Please Be Quiet, Please? (1976); What We Talk About When We Talk About Love (1981); Where I'm Calling From (1988); Short Cuts (1993)

CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Guide: