The Red Tent

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of religious discrimination and gender discrimination.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. How did your expectations of The Red Tent shift as the narrative moved from biblical retelling to Dinah’s personal journey? Have you read other works that reimagine religious or mythic texts—e.g., Margaret Atwood’s Penelopiad? How does this one compare?

2. What effect does Dinah’s first-person narration have on the story? How might the novel have differed if told from multiple perspectives or through a third-person narrator?

3. How did the novel’s portrayal of ancient customs and beliefs influence your understanding of women’s experiences in ancient times? Did you notice any differences between this novel’s depiction and that of a work like Geraldine Brooks’s The Secret Chord, which also draws inspiration from a biblical story but focuses on a male protagonist?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. The red tent represents a sacred space where women gather to share stories, support one another, and observe rituals.