These Silent Woods

What insights arise from the novel’s use of a first-person narrator? What does the narrative obscure?

One epigraph of the text is a line from Walt Whitman: “I am larger, better than I thought, I did not know I held so much goodness.” Discuss how this quote applies to the text, specifically as it relates to the literary elements of theme and characterization.

How do the setting of the novel and the ordering of the plot build suspense?

Loss and grief are important in the novel as the main characters—Cooper, Finch, Scotland, and Marie—experience both at one point. Choose two of these characters and compare and contrast their relationship to grief.

The point of view in the novel shifts in the Epilogue, which is narrated by Finch. How does this choice relate to the broader themes of the story?

How are Cooper’s views on parenting revealed in the novel? Are they fully consistent? Use textual examples to explain why or why not.

What role do poetry and literature play in the novel? Identify three literary quotes, poems, or allusions in the novel and explore their impact on the theme(s) of the novel.

Does Scotland’s “act of grace” prevent Cooper from achieving redemption in the novel? Why or why not? Discuss Cooper’s characterization and at least one other literary element in your response.