The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest Theme of Language and Communication

Overall, this theme is concerned with language and communication as evidence, as news, and as history. It's concerned with how people, government agents, the media, and professionals like doctors and lawyers interact with each other. In other words, it's serious. In The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, we also see our favorite heroine, Salander, find her voice. For the first time she decides to talk to the authorities and share her life story. She writes her own autobiography, talks to her lawyer, and speaks at her trial. And speaking out does a world of good: Salander gains her freedom and the bad guys are arrested.

1. Why does Salander decide to make her story public knowledge?
2. What are some of the positive and negative uses of silence in the novel?
3. What are some of the things Salander leaves out of her autobiography, and why does she omit them?
4. What are some of Blomkvist's techniques? How does he convince so many people to help him help Salander?
5. Would you like to read Blomkvist's books? Do you think he's a good reporter?