The Sun Also Rises Book Club Discussion Questions

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Quick answer: Good book club questions for The Sun Also Rises focus on the “lost generation,” love and masculinity. Below are 17 questions grouped by theme, with a spoiler-free summary, a characters-and-themes table, meeting ideas and a sample 90-minute plan.

Quick facts

– Book: The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway

– First published: 1926

– Setting: Paris and Pamplona, Spain, in the 1920s

– Adaptation: A 1957 film

– Content note: Heavy drinking, bullfighting and antisemitism in some characters

The Sun Also Rises is a rewarding choice for a book club because it gives readers plenty to discuss without needing special knowledge. This guide gives you questions you can use as written or adapt for your group, plus ideas for running the meeting, so that a host with little time can still lead a good conversation.

Spoiler-Free Summary

Jake Barnes, an American journalist in Paris, was wounded in World War I and cannot have sex. He loves Lady Brett Ashley, a free-spirited Englishwoman, but they cannot be together. Jake, Brett and their friends travel to Pamplona for the bullfights, where jealousy and drinking lead to conflict.

The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway book cover

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Main Characters and Themes

Character or Theme	What to Know
Jake Barnes	The narrator, a wounded veteran
Lady Brett Ashley	The woman Jake loves
Robert Cohn	A writer who pursues Brett
Pedro Romero	A young bullfighter

Discussion Questions (Contains Spoilers)

These questions assume everyone has finished the book, so they discuss the ending. They are grouped by theme so you can move through them in order or jump to the topic your group cares about most. Feel free to rephrase them, add follow-up questions such as “why do you think so?” and skip any that do not suit your members.

Opening Reactions

What was your first impression of The Sun Also Rises, and did it change as you read?
Which scene or passage stayed with you most, and why?

Jake and Brett

Why can't Jake and Brett be together?
Is Brett a villain or a victim?
What does Jake want?
What does the last line mean?

The Lost Generation

How has the war shaped these characters?
Why do they drink so much?
How is Robert Cohn treated, and why?
Do any of them find meaning?

Hemingway's Style

How does Hemingway's simple style affect the story?
What do the bullfights represent?
Does the book feel dated?
Would you read more Hemingway?

Looking Back

How did the ending of The Sun Also Rises make you feel, and was it the ending you expected?
Would you recommend this book to a friend, and what would you tell them first?
If you could ask Ernest Hemingway one question, what would it be?

Meeting Ideas

Serve Spanish tapas and talk about the Pamplona festival.

A simple way to start is to have each person share a one-sentence rating of the book before discussion begins. It surfaces disagreements early and gives quieter members a chance to speak first. You can also ask each member to bring one question of their own, which often leads to the best conversations of the night.

Ways to Make the Discussion Richer

Compare formats. If a film, series or stage version of The Sun Also Rises exists, discuss what changes and why.
Share a favorite line. Ask each person to read a short passage that stood out and explain what it meant to them.
Cast the book. Ask the group who they would cast in the main roles, and why.
Rate the pace. Ask where the book felt fastest or slowest, and whether the structure worked for them.
Pair it with a snack or drink. Food connected to the story gives guests something to talk about before the formal discussion starts.

Tips for Leading the Discussion

Prepare, but stay flexible. Pick a handful of questions in advance and let the group's reactions guide you.
Invite quieter voices. Ask someone who has not spoken to share a favorite line or scene.
Welcome disagreement. A lively debate about a character is a sign that the book is working.
Return to the text. Ask members to point to a passage in The Sun Also Rises that supports their view.
Watch the clock. Move on when a question has run its course, and save extra questions for another time.

If your group has only an hour, choose one question from each theme and skip the rest.

Is The Sun Also Rises a Good Book Club Pick?

The Sun Also Rises is short and classic, good for groups who want to discuss Hemingway.

Books Like This One

A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway: a wartime love story
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald: the Jazz Age

How to Structure Your Meeting

A 90-minute meeting works well in four parts:

Welcome and quick ratings (10 minutes). Settle in and share a one-line reaction.
Spoiler-free talk (20 minutes). Start with characters, setting and style before the plot.
Spoiler discussion (45 minutes). Work through three or four of the questions above, letting the conversation wander when it is productive.
Wrap-up (15 minutes). Share favorite lines, choose the next book and thank the host.

If the conversation is going well, it is fine to let it run long and skip some questions.

After the Meeting

Send a short follow-up message with the next title, the date and a link to any readings or articles that came up. Some groups keep a simple record of books read and ratings, which makes it easier to choose future picks and spot the kinds of books the group loves most.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many questions should we prepare for The Sun Also Rises?

Five to eight is enough for a 90-minute meeting. This guide gives seventeen, so you can choose the ones that fit your group.

Does The Sun Also Rises work as a first pick for a new book club?