Compare and contrast how Anna and Caleb react to the upheavals caused by the drought and their time in Maine. How do their differing perspectives shape the novel’s exploration of family, resilience, and belonging?

Analyze how the novel explores the idea of home as both a physical and emotional construct. How do all the members of the Witting family define home, and how does their perspective evolve through the course of the novel?

Trace the role of memory and storytelling in the novel, analyzing how it is  integral to shaping personal and collective identity.

How does the novel use nature—the drought, the rain, animals—to reflect the psychological states of its characters?

A Bildungsroman follows the social and emotional growth of a character from childhood to adulthood. Discuss how Skylark is a Bildungsroman and trace Anna’s coming-of-age journey through her experiences with love, sacrifice, and resilience.

How does Patricia MacLachlan’s minimalist prose style contribute to the novel’s emotional impact and thematic resonance?

Discuss the role of motherhood in the story. How does Sarah approach becoming Anna and Caleb’s mother? Is this different from her desire to have a baby?

Analyze Jacob’s character. Does he challenge or reinforce the archetype of the taciturn patriarch?