The Silent Companions

Discuss the idea of protection as it’s addressed in the novel. What dangers arise when people try to protect one another? For example, consider Elsie’s murder of her parents to protect Jolyon and Anne’s lying to Josiah to protect Hetta.

Trace the novel’s layered narrative structure. How does this approach affect the tone and themes in the story? Consider the metafictional approach of Elsie’s written confession from St Joseph’s and Anne’s diary becoming vehicles for the narrative’s unfolding.

Analyze the motif of memory in the story. How does the author use Elsie’s memories to reveal her backstory? What role does memory play in her unraveling mental health?

How does the novel depict Hetta’s disability? Does it associate it with the “evil” she embodies, at least according to her mother?

Analyze the role of religion in the story. Discuss the tension between the villagers’ Puritanism and Anne’s white magic. What role does Mr. Underwood play in the story’s treatment of religion?

Discuss the theme of family legacy presented in the novel. Contrast Elsie and Jolyon’s familial heritage to the Bainbridges’: How does class complicate each?

How does the story address the issue of mental health, particularly in women? Discuss Dr. Shepherd’s treatment and approach to Elsie.

What does wood symbolize in the story? Discuss how it appears in the story, from matches to sawdust and splinters.