What the Wind Knows

Annie Gallagher is torn between preserving history and changing it. In the novel, can history be changed, or is it a fixed series of events? Explain your reasoning.

What role do important Irish historical figures play in this novel? Discuss the presence of Michael Collins, Countess Markievicz, and Arthur Griffith.

Analyze the relationship between Eoin and Annie. How does their role reversal deepen their connection? How do their experiences parallel one another?

Thomas Smith notes that Annie’s presence in 1921 Ireland is an act of rebellion. What does he mean by this?

Historical artifacts play an important role in this novel. Choose up to three and discuss how these artifacts support and challenge Annie’s perceptions of history.

Discuss Brigid Gallagher’s function in the novel. What role does this character play in Annie’s understanding of history?

How does the novel answer the question of whether historical accounts should focus on the bigger picture or on the details of firsthand experience? Use evidence from the text to support your answer.

Discuss the role of folklore in the novel. How are Celtic legends and mythology used and by whom?