50 pages • 1-hour read
The Butcher and the Wren
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Essay Topics
What is the significance of the time discrepancy in the narrative, besides facilitating the “plot twist” of Wren’s true identity? Are there any hints that Jeremy’s perspectives in Part 1 are seven years prior to Wren’s?
Explore Urquhart’s use of free indirect speech in both Jeremy and Wren’s perspectives. Why do you think she utilized a third person narration with free indirect speech instead of first-person narration?
Explain the significance of the image of Wren’s hair. How does it connect to and mirror her mental state?
Justice is an ideal essential to the understanding of this novel. Select one characters; how does Urquhart portray justice through this character?
Explore the history of crime fiction. How is The Butcher and the Wren is informed by the crime fiction genre?
How does Urquhart’s background as a true crime podcaster and an autopsy technician influence the novel?
How does Urquhart use flashbacks to construct Jeremy’s psychology?
How does Urquhart juxtapose violence and beauty throughout the narrative?
How do biology, medicine, and medical terminology play different roles in Jeremy and Wren’s perspectives?
How is New Orleans significant as a setting? What role does the city play in the narrative?
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