State of Wonder

The Amazon is the second longest river in the world, bridging the Atlantic Coast of Brazil to the deep jungle heart of the South American continent. Like many other literary classics featuring rivers—Huckleberry Finn and the Mississippi, Heart of Darkness and the Congo—State of Wonder uses the Amazon River as an important symbol. With this in mind, develop a multi-paragraph analysis examining how the Amazon River as symbol helps us to understand the novel as a whole.

How would you characterize the author’s portrayal of the various tribes that make up the Amazon interior? What are the similarities and differences between tribes like the Lakashi, the Jinta, and the Hummocca? Does Patchett’s portrayal of these tribes offer larger insights into humanity?

Like the Amazon River, the Martin tree and its rare compound function as an important symbol. Re-read Marina’s initial encounter with the Martin ecosystem in Chapter 9, and develop a multi-paragraph essay that explores the Martin ecosystem’s role as symbol. In at least part of your essay, address the following question: What truths or ideas do the Martin tree and its fragile and interconnected system reveal about the natural world and our relationship to it?