Curated set · answers marked
In J.M. Coetzee's Disgrace, what is David Lurie's academic position at the beginning of the novel, and why is he forced to resign?
A) He is a professor of classics; he is caught plagiarizing a student's work. B) He is a professor of communications; he is found to have had a consensual affair with a colleague. C) He is a professor of communications and an adjunct professor of modern languages; he is found to have had a sexual relationship with a student, Melanie Isaacs, and refuses to show remorse before the disciplinary committee. D) He is a professor of English literature; he is arrested for fraud and embezzlement.
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: David Lurie works as a professor of communications (and also teaches Romantic poetry as an adjunct) at Cape Technical University. When his affair with student Melanie Isaacs comes to light, he is summoned for a disciplinary hearing. His unwillingness to provide a sincere apology or participate meaningfully in the committee's process ultimately leads to his resignation.
*Quiz Question — Disgrace by J. M. Coetzee*
What is the name of the main character in J. M. Coetzee's Disgrace, and what does he do for a living at the beginning of the novel?
A) Marcus Olivier — a lawyer at the University of Cape Town B) David Lurie — a professor of communications at Cape Technical University C) David Lurie — a professor of Romantic poetry at Cape Technical University D) Simon Voss — a literature lecturer at the University of Johannesburg
Correct Answer: C
David Lurie is a twice-divorced professor who teaches Romantic poetry (as well as communications) at Cape Technical University. His affair with a student named Melanie Isaacs leads to a disciplinary hearing that kicks off the story.
What university does Professor David Lurie work at when the novel starts?
Rationale
At the beginning of the novel, David Lurie teaches communications and Romantic poetry at Cape Technical University in Cape Town, highlighting his feeling of being out of place in the changing landscape of post-apartheid South Africa.