I Know This Much Is True

Several characters undergo growth over the course of the novel. Make an argument for which character—other than the narrator and protagonist, Dominick—experiences the most dramatic change. What circumstances bring about this change?

“Survival of the fittest” is a refrain that Dominick makes frequently. What does he mean by this? To whom does this phrase apply, and what does such survival look like? What other values conflict with this one in Dominick’s mind?

Why is Dominick initially resistant to the therapy sessions with Dr. Patel? How does he ultimately decide to confide in her? How do these therapy sessions affect Dominick?

Ralph Drinkwater appears at several junctures in the novel. What makes him a significant character? In what ways is he a foil for Dominick?

In what ways do gender norms—particularly traditional masculinity—create conflict for specific characters? How do characters resolve these pressures?

The Vietnam War and the 1991 Persian Gulf War (termed “Operation Desert Storm”) provide important backgrounds for the novel’s plot. How does war function as a metaphor at various junctures in the novel?

In what ways does Dominick’s relationship with his brother parallel his grandfather Domenico’s relationships with his brothers? How do these parallels reinforce the impact of the past and history on the present?

Why is Dominick so desperate to know the identity of his biological father? What does he hope will shift when he obtains this knowledge? How does lacking this knowledge shape him?