Description: 1. Historically, outsiders have viewed the harem through the lens of sexual intrigue. Discuss how your impression of harem life has changed after readingHalide's Gift.Are there advantages to the sexes living apart?2. Mahmoure hates wearing her veil (see p. 70), whereas Halide feels protected by it (pp. 200-201). Consider why, in modern Turkey, wearing a headscarf has become a political statement against secularism. What do you think of the veil?3. Belief in the power of spirits and "peris" played an important role in women's lives during final days of the Ottoman Empire. Examine some modern equivalents in our everyday life.4. Even though his actions affect her, Edib Pasha discusses with Halide neither his decision to bring Mahmoure to the harem nor his decision to marry Teyze. Discuss Edib Pasha's motivations. Was his apparently thoughtless behavior dictated by the patriarchal structure of Ottoman society, or was he, as Granny feels, "a solitary man" (p. 167) who would not think of consulting other people?5. Teyze is devastated when she discovers that Edib has taken a second wife (p. 162). Although Islamic law permits polygamy, do women in the novel suffer when their husbands take multiple wives? Did Edib hurt Teyze intentionally, or was he surprised by her reaction? Was his decision justified by her inability to bear children.6. Examine Mahmoure's unconventional behavior in dressing like a man (p. 102). Does this free her or bring her closer to her adored father?7. Halide tells her father "We cannot fight fate" (p. 158). How does her deterministic belief differ from the Western notion of taking control of one's own destiny? Consider how Halide's perception of fate and free will is altered by her education.8. Although Halide's father arranges her marriage to Salih Zeki, the union is clearly a love match. Discuss why the marriage fails and how Halide changes. Where does she find the courage to demand a divorce and how does her father influence her decision? Examine why Halide is able to survive the breakdown of her marriage, whereas Teyze is shattered by her separation. What personal qualities differentiate the two women?9. Politics and religion are closely bound within the Islamic faith. Discuss instances where politics and religion are intertwined within the novel.10. Discuss the impact of Western ideas on the political situation in Constantinople. Does Westernization threaten to destabilize the empire, or is it a source of progress? How do Edib, Salih Zeki and Halide respond? From the Trade Paperback edition.

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