Ghost Story

What is the role of the shapeshifter’s changing identities/names in this novel? What does this communicate about the society which the shapeshifter confronts?

Why does the shapeshifter shift only into women or animals? What does this communicate about the shapeshifter and those it targets? Choose a female character the shapeshifter changes into and an animal it shifts into and compare how the female and the animal operate within the narrative. What do they symbolize?

What role does writing take in the development of the plot and themes? What does writing symbolize for the characters? How does it impact the narrative’s tone and mood?

In what ways does Straub support and subvert the American Gothic genre? Cite passages from the text to support your answer.

In what ways do the images of weather and nature symbols support the central mood? How does the weather change the conflict of the narrative? Why does the weather become impactful?

Chart the path of the Chowder Society’s actions after Eva Galli’s death. What actions could these men have taken to avoid later calamity? How does this contribute to the theme of Pride and Shame’s role in Keeping Secrets?

The omniscient narrator allows the reader access to multiple perspectives and timelines. How does this narrative choice underscore the themes of the novel? Think about which perspectives are the longest, which are the shortest, and how the format of the perspectives change.

How does Peter’s interaction with Jim mirror the Chowder’s Society’s youth? What message does Straub convey with this narrative choice?