What do you think is Erdrich’s purpose with this novel? If you could say she has an overall message, what would it be?
Final discussion Q’s for Tracks
1) What do you think is Erdrich’s purpose with this novel? If you could
say she has an overall message, what would it be?
2) What role does religion play in Tracks? Are we supposed to come
away from the novel hating Christianity?
3) What does Erdrich select two narrators for this novel? Is Nanapush
“right” and Pauline “wrong”? Is it that simple?
4) Is Fleur the main character or only a minor character? What is the
importance of Fleur’s character? How does she evolve throughout
the book? How might her character add to our understanding of her
people? What does poker represent for Fleur? Think about who
plays and what’s at stake? Why does Fleur play? What does she
have to sacrifice?
5) What about the title of the book and all of the references to Tracks.
How do they help us make sense of the novel? Do all the tracks lead
to death? Is this a novel about death and dying and the trails that
lead there? Are Pauline and Fleur murderers?
6) What is the significance of the ending of the book? (talk about the
betrayal as well as Fleur’s final act)
7) Discuss all of the different rivalries in the book. Why do you think
that Erdrich includes the Morrisseys and the Lazarres? Why do you
think she makes mixed blood Native Americans “the enemy” of the
Nanapush / Pillager / Kashpaw clans?
Answer preview What do you think is Erdrich’s purpose with this novel? If you could say she has an overall message, what would it be?
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