All the Sinners Bleed

What different concepts do Titus’s sheriff badge come to symbolize as the novel progresses, and how does this shifting symbol complement Titus’s character development?

Analyze the significance of both literal and metaphorical “masks” throughout the novel.

What does Titus mean when he says that the South is “Christ-haunted” (quoting Flannery O’Connor) or, in his words, haunted specifically by the “hypocrisy” of religion? Why is this significant in the novel?

What does Confederate propaganda symbolize in the novel? How does this contribute to Titus’s character arc?

How does the author’s use of allusions and references to other literary works develop the novel’s primary themes?

How does racism affect both crime and the justice system in the novel?

The book alludes to William Faulkner’s famous quote that “The past is never dead. It’s not even past” (Requiem for a Nun, 73). How is this idea articulated throughout All the Sinners Bleed?

Compare Elias’s church to Ricky’s neo-Confederate group. How do both institutions contribute to Royce’s monstrosity?