Act 1: What do we learn about De Monfort from his servants and attendants? What moods does he exhibit and how do these change? What is Rezenvelt's behavior to him?
Do you think De Monfort is correct in interpreting Rezenvelt's polite statements as sarcastic? Why has he visited the Count Freberg's residence?
What sources of disagreement do Count and Countess Freberg seem to have? With whom do you think Baillie sides?
Act 2: How do we learn about Jane De Monfort, and which of her traits are described? What contrasts are made between her and the Lady Freberg?
What motives does Jane give for attending the dance in disguise?
On what grounds does Rezenvelt criticize his fellow attenders at the dance? What is the significance of his attraction to Jane? How does Jane respond to his interest?
What advice does De Monfort give his veiled sister? What ironies occur in the interview between De Monfort and the disguised Jane?
What are the grounds of quarrel between Rezenvelt and De Monfort, and how do Count Freberg and Jane attempt to promote peace?
What does De Monfort confess to his sister is the source of his distemper? What aspects of Rezenvelt's temper had alienated him, and what episode galled him?
What is her reaction? What occupations does she offer to share to soothe his temper? Are there elements of foreshadowing in this scene?
What ill purpose does the Countess Freberg's jealousy produce?
Act 3: How does the attempted reconciliation promoted by Jane and Count Freberg backfire? When Count Freberg and Resenvelt discuss the incident later, to what does Rezenfelt describe De Monfort's enmity? What warnings does Count Freberg offer, and why does Rezenfelt consider them unnecessary?
What do we learn about De Monfort's mental state from his reaction to Grimbald's request? What is the effect on him of the gossip relayed by Grimbald, that Rezenvelt will marry his sister?
What does his treatment of Jerome and Manuel reveal about his mental state? How does he respond to Rezenvelt's entrance, and what is Rezenvelt's response? Do you think Rezenvelt was wise to start a journey across the night wilds?
Act 4: What is the effect of framing the murder with the account of the convent burial service? What function do the monks and nuns serve in this and the following scenes? What testimony do they bear to De Monfort's mental state? What is De Monfort's state of mind before and after he commits murder? Why does he fear being left alone? What motivates his attempted suicide?
Act 5: What does De Monfort feel has happened to him after the murder? How does Jane behave in their final interview? What does he learn about her feelings for Rezenvelt? What is the effect of his final farewell to his sister?What causes De Monfort's death? Is this an appropriate ending? What observations do Count Freberg and Bernard make over the dead bodies? What has happened to De Monfort's hair?What does Jane grieve most in her brother's death? What are her concerns in the final scene? How will De Monfort be buried?In what way does the final act provide closure? Does the ending provide catharsis? Does the reader feel "pity and terror" (Aristotle) at the fate of De Monfort?