Simon the Fiddler

Are there any scenes, characters, or moments in the novel that depict the military positively? How does the novel portray the Union and the Confederacy?

Jiles often describes the natural world. How does this style influence and emphasize the story’s plot?

Despite taking place during and after the Civil War, Black Americans rarely appear in the novel. How does race impact the narrative, if at all?

From a feminist lens, does Doris have agency as a female character? Explain using examples from the text.

Most of the novel centers around music and the importance of music to people at the time. How does Simon use his music as a form of social currency?Most of the novel centers around music and the importance of music to people at the time. How does Simon use his music as a form of social currency?

What is the narrative significance of Patrick’s death?

Issues of law, power, and legality are prominent throughout the novel, particularly in the penultimate chapter. How does Jiles use Simon’s run-ins with the law to explore justice and injustice during this time period?

Damon quotes the words of Edgar Allan Poe throughout the novel. Research one of the lines he quotes and draw a parallel between the source material and the passage of Simon the Fiddler. How are his quotes contextually relevant?