A lot of spooky stuff goes down in The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm. Old-fashioned Shona spirits run wild in the book, regardless of whether you're in ancient Resthaven or modern Zimbabwe. These aren't your run-of-the-mill ghosts or mummies either. We have witches, ancestral spirits, and even special symbols (called ndoros) that people wear to communicate with the spirits. And it's not just the Masks who care about sacrifice or creepy séances—most characters hold onto some belief in the supernatural, good or evil. It plays a big role in the culture and traditions in the book.
Questions About The Supernatural
- What is the difference between what the people in Resthaven and Tendai's family believe? How does the Gondwannan Ambassador's beliefs fit into this picture?
- How is the supernatural related to cultural heritage in the book? How might the novel be different if it were set in the United States?
- What is Tendai's attitude toward spirits and the supernatural? Does this change in the book? How does he react when he finds the ndoro?
- How do the spirits intervene in the lives of the living? What is their role in the resolution of conflict in the novel?
Chew on This
The novel demonstrates openness to spirituality and the supernatural as distinctively Zimbabwean. Believing in spirits is part of the culture of the characters.
The spiritual world becomes a source of strength, inspiration, and companionship for the characters in The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm.