Zami: A New Spelling of My Name

One of the only visible male characters throughout the book is Audre’s father, Byron. Why do you think there is such a dearth of male characters? Why does Lorde choose to only focus on female characters? How does this abundance of female characters play into the plot and themes of the book?

Many of the book’s descriptions—of female smells, of places—revolve around food. Why do you believe Lorde describes places and people in terms of food? Use evidence from the text to support your answer.

Describe the importance of clothing throughout the book. Why do you think the author chooses to focus on clothes? How do the various instances of dress relate to themes, symbols, and motifs throughout the book?

Does Audre’s identity as a black woman change throughout Zami? How does her relationship to her race compare and contrast to the way in which other characters, both black and white, view their respective races? What about the way in which they view each other?

Describe Audre’s development as a poet and a writer. Why do you think she chose this path? Use text from the book to support your argument.

Compare and contrast Audre’s relationship with her mother to her relationship with her father. Do these relationships inform her relationships with men and women later on? How so, or why not?

Describe the progression of Audre’s sexual relationship with women. Where do you believe Audre’s sexual relationship with women begins? How does this relationship both change and remain the same throughout the book?

How do the various historical contexts/time periods—the Depression, World War II, the Red Scare, and the beginnings of the Civil Rights Movement—inform the narrative? Which portions of the themes and plot feel relevant today? Which parts feel outdated? Explain your reasoning.