The Name of the Rose

The Name of The Rose is about authority of all kinds: scriptural/divine, secular/political, and aesthetic/literary. The novel asks us to consider in which institutions authority resides, and who are its most fitting representatives. For example, the abbot, in a long disquisition on his holy ring, invokes authority as his touchstone. Discuss the symbolism of the abbot’s ring, and, using other examples in the novel, talk about how the text situates the different kinds of authority in this world. You may consider the conflicts in the Catholic Church, the challenges posed by heretics, and the solutions offered by the Inquisition. You may also discuss the dichotomies of Emperor and Pope; Reason and Science; Franciscans and Dominicans. It will not be possible to cover all of these topics, so please select a few that work well together.

The character of William of Baskerville is a complex one. We come to know him through Adso’s eyes, and see that he is worthy of his pupil’s love and respect. And yet, Adso is often troubled by his master’s methods of reasoning, as well as by the ambiguity of some of his beliefs. Many readers have noted that the novel alludes to the relationship between the great detective, Sherlock Holmes, and his sidekick, Dr.