The Snowman

Consider the character of Harry Hole in the larger continuum of famous literary detectives. Explore how the character of Harry Hole fulfills or pushes back against detective tropes.

Analyze the character of Arve Støp. What is his purpose in the text, and how does his character contribute to the themes of the novel?

Examine the novel’s treatment of the topic of fatherhood. How does Nesbø address this topic in the text, and what message might he be conveying?

American music, movies, and even politics appear in The Snowman. How does Nesbø’s use of American pop culture inform the meaning of the novel?

Trace the evolution of the character of Katrine Bratt throughout the novel. In what way does she symbolize or disrupt the misogynistic culture of the police force? How does her obsession compare with Harry’s and why might readers respond to her differently than to Harry?

How does Jo Nesbø use the character of the mold man to increase tension, and amplify meaning in The Snowman?

Discuss Nesbø’s representation of the media throughout The Snowman. What role does the media play in the investigation, and what might Nesbø be trying to say about the media?

Analyze the representation of gender roles in the novel, focusing on the characters of Rakel and the other mothers in the text? How do they push back against gender conventions, and how does this build into the larger meaning of the novel?