Curated set · answers marked
Which of the following best describes the central relationship that shapes the story of A Little Life?
AA romantic rivalry between two law school classmates in New York City
BA decades-long friendship among four college friends — Willem, JB, Malcolm, and Jude — with Jude's traumatic past at the heart of the novel✓
CA mentor-student relationship between a famous painter and his apprentice
DA legal battle fought by a group of childhood friends turned lawyers
Rationale
The novel follows four friends who meet at a fictional college in New England and later navigate their lives in New York City. The story increasingly focuses on Jude St. Francis, whose enigmatic and deeply traumatic childhood unfolds throughout the narrative, making his connections — particularly with Willem — the emotional heart of the book.
Which option best captures the main relationship that drives the narrative of A Little Life?
AA romantic rivalry between two law school classmates in New York City
BA long-lasting friendship among four college friends — Willem, JB, Malcolm, and Jude — as they navigate adulthood in New York City✓
CA mentor-student relationship between a renowned painter and his apprentice
DA family saga that spans three generations of an immigrant family in America
Rationale
The novel explores the lives of four friends — Willem Ragnarsson, Jean-Baptiste (JB) Marion, Malcolm Irvine, and Jude St. Francis — from their college days through their adult lives in New York City, revealing Jude's traumatic past as the emotional heart of the story.