Krik? Krak!

Explore the depiction of female sexuality in the collection. Is female desire presented as a natural part of life, or as a threat to society? Cite specific examples from the text to support your argument.

How does the title of the collection—which is inspired by Haitian storytelling traditions—speak to individual stories? Discuss the role of the call-and-response structure within the collection.

Explore depictions of immigration in Krik? Krak! Is the immigrant experience depicted as primarily positive or negative?

How do grief and loss shape the collection? How do characters within the stories cope with the pain of both personal and national tragedies? Does Danticat offer a universal solution to grief?

How does Danticat challenge stereotypes and misconceptions about Haitian people within the collection? Cite specific examples from the text to support your argument.

Discuss the portrayal of family relationships within Krik? Krak! How are the families Danticat depicts affected by political violence, immigration, or other forms of conflict?

How might Danticat’s experience as a Haitian American immigrant influence her work in this collection? In what ways does the tone, language, or structure of her stories support your argument?

What effect does the use of the second-person “you” narration in the epilogue have on readers? Does this stylistic choice strengthen or diminish the impact of the epilogue?