45 pages • 1-hour read
The Orchard Keeper
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Essay Topics
Do humans in Red Branch live in harmony with the natural world? Why or why not?
How is violence perpetuated and transmitted within the novel?
How does the novel explore the tension between the narrative present and the past?
The novel is named after an abandoned orchard. What is the symbolic meaning of this orchard?
What do animals represent in The Orchard Keeper?
How does the novel explore the challenges of modernity in a small community?
Why does Arthur fire his gun at the metal tank, even knowing it will be repaired? How does his response to the tank differ from his response to Kenneth’s body, and what does that distinction say about him?
Can Marion Sylder be considered a strong father figure for John? Why or why not?
Who is punished more by their imprisonment, Marion or Arthur? Why?
Why does John leave Red Branch for several years? Why does he return?
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