Cloud Cuckoo Land

Cloud Cuckoo Land

• Genre: Fiction; historical fiction; literary fiction
• Originally Published: 2021
• Reading Level/Interest: College/adult
• Structure/Length: Novel divided into 3 interconnected narratives with 22 chapters, a prologue, and epilogue; approx. 626 pages; approx. 14 hours and 52 minutes on audio
• Protagonist/Central Conflict: Cloud Cuckoo Land is a sweeping and ambitious novel by Anthony Doerr that weaves together multiple narratives across three different time periods. The central conflict encompasses Anna and Omeir, two young people from different worlds who find solace in a library amidst the turmoil of war; Zeno, an astronaut traveling to a distant planet in the future; and Seymour and Konstance, two children in the 15th century who discover a mysterious book. The novel explores themes of love, hope, the power of storytelling, and the interconnectedness of all living beings. Anthony Doerr is known for his lyrical prose and intricate character development.
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: Themes of war, loss, suicide, and suicidal ideation; climate catastrophe and epidemics; discrimination based on ethnicity, disability, neurodivergence, and sexual orientation

Anthony Doerr, Author

• Bio: American author known for his contributions to literary fiction; celebrated for his evocative and thought-provoking storytelling; often explores themes of human connection, resilience, and the beauty of the natural world in his work.
• Other Works: All the Light We Cannot See (2014); About Grace (2004)
• Awards: Pulitzer Prize for Fiction (2015)

CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Guide:

• Saving Books and Information from Erasure
• False Utopia and Idealization
• Risk, Reward, and Regret

STUDY OBJECTIVES: In accomplishing the components of this Teaching Guide, students will:

• Deepen understanding of genre elements to contextualize the text and increase understanding of the novel’s structure, conflict, and themes.
• Through paired texts, analyze, compare, and discuss historical and textual elements, such as style, theme, conflict, and character development.
• Discuss and analyze symbolism, motif, characterization, and structure and construct essay responses tying these elements to the novel’s themes: Saving Books and Information from Erasure, False Utopia and Idealization, and Risk, Reward, and Regret.
• Explore unity within the novel by creating a visual representation of the parallels and connections between at least two characters and plot lines.