Challenge 1094

È pericoloso sporgersi

In Oonah V Joslin’s An Age in Steam: The story of the boy who is decapitated while leaning out a train window is said to be an example of Irish humour. What commonplace notice does it reinforce that is found on European passenger trains? In what four languages might it appear in France? Quote them.
In T. J. Young’s Deus ex Machina: Do Space Pilot Kirn’s superior officers represent the mentality of only one particular government in Earth’s ancient and modern history?
In Huina Zheng’s Think About What You Did: Why does Chen decide to withdraw her resignation? If the principal accepts it, how might he and Chen handle the abusive parent?
In Channie Greenberg’s Winging to Budapest: What is the symbolic function of the narrator’s going to Budapest? Would it mean the same if she got herself arrested for jaywalking somewhere else?
In Sultana Raza’s Spectral Echoes: Is the work a prose poem or a lyrical essay? How might one make the distinction?
In Daniel Crépault’s Life and Death in the Abyss:
1. Why would “topsiders” try to infiltrate a deep-sea colony or try to sabotage it? What do they stand to gain?
2. By what impulsive mistakes does Jonas confirm Einarsson’s opinion that he is less intelligent than Margareta?
3. Where can Jonas and Margareta escape to? Won’t everyone on earth — and in the ocean – be their enemy?
In Jahnavi Misra’s, Home, Dark Home:
1. Why is the narrator’s childhood home abandoned? Why does she return to it?
2. What is the nature of the jinn? Does the narrator ever meet it?
3. Is the creeping darkness a sludge or a state of mind? What becomes of the narrator?

Responses welcome!