Analyze Skylark’s recurrent use of the word “whisper.” How does this usage support the novel’s interest in threat, dread, and secrecy?

How does the novel use the physical settings of Salpêtrière and Hôpital Sainte-Anne to explore the theme of medicine as a tool of control?

The guide notes the significance of the blue dye as a motif. How does McLain use color-based imagery in her historical narrative to create verisimilitude and atmosphere?

Analyze the role of graffiti in the novel. You might want to think about this this in the context of self-expression, oppression and rebellion. Use precise examples in your answer.

Do you think the novel suggest that moral courage is an innate or learned characteristic? Draw on evidence to support your opinion.

Consider how Skylark compares and contrasts the concepts of matrilineal and patrilineal heritage and culture. How does this support the novel’s main themes?

Familiarize yourself with Ovid’s Metamorphoses. Which of the tales do you find most apt in relation to Sasha Brodsky’s personal journey? Why is this?

In what ways does the novel portray the experiences of loneliness versus community? How does McLain’s use of language change to evoke these opposite feelings for her characters?