Let Us Descend

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of racism, physical abuse, and graphic violence.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book. 

1. With the spirits that visit Annis, the novel blends historical fiction with elements of magical realism. How did this blend of genres enhance or complicate your engagement with the historical realities portrayed?

2. Compare one of Ward’s earlier works (e.g., Sing, Unburied, Sing or Salvage the Bones) to Let Us Descend. How do the titles portray family bonds and generational trauma?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Throughout the novel, Annis draws strength from her memories of her mother’s stories and lessons. What stories or teachings from your own family have given you strength during difficult moments?

2. Despite her enslavement, Annis finds many forms of emotional and spiritual agency. Have you ever been in a situation that required you to rely upon less obvious forms of personal power?

3. The relationship between Annis and Safi shows that people can make genuine connections even amidst brutal circumstances. What moments of “sweetness” have helped you to overcome hardships in life?

4. Memories serve as a refuge for Annis throughout her journey. What personal strategies have you developed to navigate life’s challenges? How do your habits compare to Annis’s approach?

5. Both Sasha and Annis have a profound connection to their ancestry and cultural heritage. How has your own cultural background helped to shape your identity?

6. The bees become a powerful symbol for Annis. Have you ever ascribed a specific meaning to a form of wildlife? What inspired this connection for you?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. Ward vividly portrays the brutal reality of sugar plantations and their connection to the history of enslavement. How does this grim history continue to shape modern economic and social systems?

2. The novel explores the many forms of subtle resistance and open defiance that enslaved people have employed. How does the novel’s depiction complicate popular narratives about enslaved people’s experiences?

3. “Plaçage” was a complex social system in New Orleans that granted privileges to certain women of color. What does this historical practice imply about the intersections of race, gender, and power?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. References to Dante’s Inferno appear throughout the narrative. How did the hellish imagery shape your understanding of Annis’s journey?

2. The spirits in the novel, particularly Aza, often provide contradictory advice. How do these ambiguous guides affect Annis’s character development?

3. Weapons such as Mama Aza’s spear and the elephant-tusk awl become important symbols in the text. What do these objects represent?

4. Why does Ward deliberately avoid naming any white enslavers in the novel?

5. How does the Great Dismal Swamp come to embody freedom and resilience?

6. Annis travels from Carolina to New Orleans and finally to her own clearing. How does this journey transform her inner character?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. If you could add an additional chapter to the novel, what would you write about? What loose ends still need to be resolved?

2. Imagine interviewing Jesmyn Ward about her creative process. What questions would you ask her about Let Us Descend? Why?

3. The novel ends with Annis establishing her own freedom in the woods and discovering that she is pregnant. What might her life look like five years later? What lessons from her mother and grandmother would she choose to pass on?

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