UNDERSTANDING MEANING

1. How are the brothers different before the war? How are they different after the war?

2. What is Henry watching on the TV? Why does Lyman want to throw it out?

3. What does the car represent to the brothers before the war? Does that change after the war?

4. What are the thematic implications of the first paragraph when one comes back to it after having read the story?

5. What is the symbolic significance of the photograph? What themes grow directly out of that symbol?

ANALYZING CONTENT

1. What's the purpose of the scenes with the girl in Alaska? Why is so much focus put on her hair?

2. Who is the main character in this story, Lyman or Henry? Why?

3. Does their Native American heritage matter to the story? What if they were two Caucasian brothers?

4. How does Erdrich use foreshadowing to create suspense?

5. How does Lyman's love for his brother affect his point of view? How does it affect the way he remembers the events in the story?