Bring on the tough stuff - there’s not just one right answer.
- Why do you think this novel isn't divided into chapters? How does Silko choose to mark transitions in the story?
- How many different genres of writing can you find within the novel?
- At the end of the novel, old Grandma remarks: "It seems like I already heard these stories before . . . only thing is, the names sound different" (XXIX.17). Changing the names (to protect the innocent), how would you retell one of the many stories in Ceremony? Your characters could be pop culture icons, your best friends, or the cast of Glee.
- Emo is a pretty terrifying villain. He carries a bag of human teeth around with him and has a deep fondness for flamethrowers. Who are some of your favorite villains from literature? Do any of them outdo Emo in creepiness?
- What role do women play in Ceremony? Who are the women who most affect Tayo, and what do they have in common? Do you see any repetitions of female character types?
- Josiah, Tayo, and Robert decide to add Auntie's brand to the Mexican one the spotted cattle already have. Does Auntie's brand, which looks like a 4 with a hat on it, have any symbolic significance? (X.51)