Plainsong

Russell is one of the novel’s key antagonists. Though he inflicts traumas on a number of different characters, is he in any way redeemable?

Smoking allows characters to reflect, relax, and examine the world around them. In what ways does the author use the smoking of cigarettes to signify a connection between the characters and their immediate environment?

One of the central themes of the novel is community. How does the community of Holt function within the text? Does it provide support for every character?

As one of the most common symbolic figures within the novel, cows appear frequently. What is the relationship between cattle and motherhood within the text?

Horses provide a means of transportation and a means of bonding. What is the emotional connection between the Guthrie children and their horses, and how does this change throughout the book?

Death is not absent from the text, though it is mostly inflicted on animals. In what ways does death affect the characters, with particular attention paid to the ways in which they grieve (or do not grieve)?

Ella’s depression and increasing distance from her family is one of the novel’s many unreconciled tragedies. How is the medical condition of depression portrayed in the book?

As the largest city closest to Holt, Denver carries a significant symbolic meaning. What does the city of Denver mean to the residents of Holt?