Angle of Repose

Oliver is an engineer who works on mines. Susan is an artist, a person who sees the metaphorical importance of these mines. How does the literary significance of the mines intersect with the lives of the miners?

Lyman and his grandparents all experience marital difficulties. What parallel can be found between the two marriages? How do they inform one another?

Lyman and his grandparents all experience marital difficulties. What parallel can be found between the two marriages? How do they inform one another?

Frank is one of the novel’s most complicated figures. He is stuck in an impossible position of being in love with his best friend's wife. To what extent was Frank's suicide inevitable? To what extent was it preventable? 

Though the novel does not have an outright antagonist, there are several key villains, such as Mr. Kendall and Burns the lawyer. Which of these has the biggest impact on the lives of the Ward family?

Thomas and Augusta's lives contrast and complement Susan's life. In what ways do the Hudsons’ successes reflect upon Susan’s failures? How does Susan deal with this?

Oliver experiences several failures in his life. Which of the failed projects has the biggest impact on his life and his marriage?

One of the novel’s recurring metaphors is the rose. Roses appear throughout the characters lives, cultivated and destroyed by the characters in equal measure. What is the significance of the rose to the Ward family?