Characters | |
Hannah Butler Victoria Lady Hamilton Bernard – LH’s personal Butler Poppa Butler – Hannah’s father John Nightwatch – proposed husband in England | Hans Nelson Harky Uliah Witt Michael Severts Dutch Lituya Bay: Negook – Tlingit Bear God Kah-Lituya |
For discussion:
- Why did Hannah marry Hans? Why was she so loyal? How can you explain her actions of blindly following him, giving him her money, and never voicing her opinions?
- On page 67 of the paperback, the author describes the difference between men and women this way:
- Women need security. They want to have homes, have children.
- Men are more driven, somehow. They build the nest to get the girl, not for want of a nest. That’s what all this chasing after gold is about, running crazy to get rich.
Do you agree?
- Discuss the Indian beliefs, especially regarding while people. Were the Indians or the white people the more sympathetic characters, more intelligent characters?
- Compare passages from page 91 (landscape description) and page 12 (typical romantic novel love scene). Do you think the writing was even throughout the novel? Did the author do a better job writing about the land or the characters and their relationships?
- The title was explained on page 49 of the paperback. What does it mean to be “heartbroke?”
- Given that the author is an Alaska-based nonfiction writer, did you like the way he/she described the land, the characters, and their experiences?
- Discuss the end of the story.
- Were Dutch and Harky plotting against Hans and Hannah and Michael saved them?
- Do you think Michael would have continued killing and killed Hans?
- Discuss Hans’s treatment of Michael when he was held captive. Was that justified or overly cruel?
- Discuss Hannah’s reaction – her insistence on having a formal court of law and trial, helping hasten Michael’s death when he was hung
- Vocabulary:
- Moue – page 14
- Dudgeon – page 16
- Bedlamite – page 166
