Voorheesville Public Library

QUESTIONS

Why is Chloe resentful? What does she resent?
What does Chloe find strange and objectionable about Salome? Are her fears justified?
What kind of mother is Chloe?
Chloe and Brendan are pretentious and critical individuals. What effect do their personalities have on the tone of the novel?
Is Chloe and Brendan’s reluctance to talk to their son about sex surprising?
The descriptions of the house are very detailed. Why is the house significant?
Why does Chloe find the poacher menacing?
How does the author build suspense?
What are some of the prejudices expressed by the characters?
What role does photography play in the story?
Who is the unnamed narrator? Did you find this device intriguing or annoying?
How many points of view are there in the novel?
What mysteries and unexplained things occur? What effect do they create?
Martin has Jelena give her account of her ordeal in the Bosnian war at the same time the War in Iraq is starting. Is the timing of these two things significant?
What does Brendan’s viewpoint as a historian add to the reflections on war and history?
What qualities make Jelena a survivor?
Jelena doesn’t find the behavior of the soldiers who committed the war atrocities an aberration. She says “These things always happen in wars. It takes the lid off of everything. The ones who enjoy inflicting pain…[t]hey come out of the woodwork. Who guessed how many there were? And they all have the same credo: for my just cause the enemy must suffer. His cries of pain are my vindication.” Do you agree?
How many different perspectives on the theme of home did you find in the novel?
Who has power in the novel and who is powerless?
What does the title refer to?

Questions compiled by Suzanne Fisher (fishers@uhls.lib.ny.us)


	Trespass
	QUESTIONS Why is Chloe resentful? What does she resent? What does Chloe find strange and objectionable about Salome? Are her fears justified? What kind of mother is Chloe? Chloe and Brendan are pretentious and critical individuals. What effect do their personalities have on the tone of the novel? Is Chloe and Brendan’s reluctance to talk to their son about sex surprising? The descriptions of the house are very detailed. Why is the house significant? Why does Chloe find the poacher menacing? How does the author build suspense? What are some of the prejudices expressed by the characters? What role does photography play in the story? Who is the unnamed narrator? Did you find this device intriguing or annoying? How many points of view are there in the novel? What mysteries and unexplained things occur? What effect do they create? Martin has Jelena give her account of her ordeal in the Bosnian war at the same time the War in Iraq is starting. Is the timing of these two things significant? What does Brendan’s viewpoint as a historian add to the reflections on war and history? What qualities make Jelena a survivor? Jelena doesn’t find the behavior of the soldiers who committed the war atrocities an aberration. She says “These things always happen in wars. It takes the lid off of everything. The ones who enjoy inflicting pain…[t]hey come out of the woodwork. Who guessed how many there were? And they all have the same credo: for my just cause the enemy must suffer. His cries of pain are my vindication.” Do you agree? How many different perspectives on the theme of home did you find in the novel? Who has power in the novel and who is powerless? What does the title refer to? Questions compiled by Suzanne Fisher (fishers@uhls.lib.ny.us)