65 pages • 2 hours read
Lisa WingateA modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Explore the concept of generational trauma as depicted in Shelterwood. Consider the parallels between Mrs. Wambles’s foster home and the laundry house in 1909 Talihina, as well as the similarities between Olive’s plight as a young girl and Sydney’s situation in 1990.
Compare and contrast the author’s depiction of modern childhood with her depiction of childhood in 1909.
What implicit points does Shelterwood make about women’s rights and gender equality? Cite examples from the text to support your claims.
The novel maintains a sharp focus on the various iterations of parenthood and guardianship, both positive and negative. Select two parent or guardian figures in the novel to compare and contrast. How do they view their roles as caregivers, and how do those views impact the novel’s primary events?
How does Shelterwood portray the process of healing after trauma? Examine the different ways in which characters like Olive, Valerie, Dewey, and Nessa cope with personal loss.
How do lies and hidden truths drive the plot and character development in Shelterwood? Analyze the impact of secret-keeping on the characters’ relationships and conflicts within the novel.
Consider the figure of Keyes Radley, the man whom Olive knows as her father. How does the novel reconcile his crimes on behalf of Lockridge with Olive’s fond memories of him as a parental figure?
Discuss the novel’s depiction of social responsibility, considering positive figures like Valerie and Curtis and unscrupulous characters such as Lockridge, Alton Parker, and Tesco. How do these characters act to either fulfill or deny their social responsibilities?
What role does personal sacrifice play in the development of Shelterwood's central themes? Examine how Olive’s and Valerie’s willingness to sacrifice for themselves for others impacts their relationships.
How does Wingate use animals as symbols to reflect notions of innocence or interconnectedness?
By Lisa Wingate