Elsewhere

Consider the structure of Elsewhere. How does the novel’s form reflect its subject matter?

What role does the subplot involving Betty and Curtis play in the novel? How do their storylines (independently and as a couple) compare to Liz and Owen’s?

Elsewhere uses several analogies to describe the nature of human existence; the orientation video Liz watches compares it to a circle and a line, Esther describes it as a tree with branches and roots, and Liz herself eventually compares it to Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. How do each of these analogies contribute to Zevin’s portrayal of human life?