Odour of Chrysanthemums Questions

Bring on the tough stuff - there’s not just one right answer.

  1. So, we cover this question in "What's Up with the Title?" too, but . . . seriously, what's up with the chrysanthemums?
  2. What role do the children play in the story's meditation on life and death? Why are they there?
  3. What about the mother-in-law? What's her gig in all this? And why doesn't she get a name?
  4. What do you think really happened in the mine? Matthews said something about seeming like it was "on purpose"? Is he just referring to how perfectly (and unfortunately) the tunnel ends up sealing Walter in, or something else?
  5. Why do you think Walter's death makes Elizabeth rethink her entire marriage/its meaning?