Humanities › Literature 'Robinson Crusoe' Questions for Study and Discussion Daniel Defoe's Famous Novel Share Flipboard Email Print The British Library/Wikimedia Commons Literature Classic Literature Study Guides Authors & Texts Top Picks Lists Terms Best Sellers Plays & Drama Poetry Quotations Shakespeare Short Stories Children's Books By Esther Lombardi Esther Lombardi Literature Expert M.A., English Literature, California State University - Sacramento B.A., English, California State University - Sacramento Esther Lombardi, M.A., is a journalist who has covered books and literature for over twenty years. Learn about our Editorial Process Updated on March 06, 2017 Robinson Crusoe is the famous first novel by Daniel Defoe. A young man is shipwrecked and stranded on a deserted island. It's the stuff dreams are made of, but there's more to it than that. Here are a few questions for study and discussion. Discussion Questions What is important about the title? What are the conflicts in Robinson Crusoe? What types of conflict (physical, moral, intellectual, or emotional) did you notice in this novel? How does Daniel Defoe reveal character in Robinson Crusoe? What are some themes in the story? How do they relate to the plot and characters? What are some symbols in Robinson Crusoe? How do they relate to the plot and characters? Are the characters consistent in their actions? Which of the characters are fully developed? How? Why? Do you find the characters likable? Are the characters persons you would want to meet? How do loneliness, fear, and isolation affect (and shape) the characters? Does the novel end the way you expected? How? Why? What is the central/primary purpose of Robinson Crusoe? Is the purpose important or meaningful? How essential is the setting to the story? Could the story have taken place anywhere else? How important is friendship and/or camaraderie to Robinson Crusoe? Compare/contrast Robinson Crusoe with other works by Daniel Defoe? How does Robinson Crusoe fit into Defoe's body of works? Would you recommend Robinson Crusoe to a friend? Cite this Article Format mla apa chicago Your Citation Lombardi, Esther. "'Robinson Crusoe' Questions for Study and Discussion." ThoughtCo, Aug. 27, 2020, thoughtco.com/robinson-crusoe-questions-for-study-741248. Lombardi, Esther. (2020, August 27). 'Robinson Crusoe' Questions for Study and Discussion. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/robinson-crusoe-questions-for-study-741248 Lombardi, Esther. "'Robinson Crusoe' Questions for Study and Discussion." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/robinson-crusoe-questions-for-study-741248 (accessed April 2, 2023). copy citation Featured Video