Analyze how Snake-Eater depicts emotional abuse. How do Selena’s interactions with Walter, her mother, and Snake-Eater echo one another? In what ways does the novel show abusive dynamics persisting after the relationship ends?

Examine the role of scripting and apologies as survival strategies. At what points do scripts fail, and what replaces them? How does Selena’s relationship to scripting impact her confidence?

Evaluate how the desert setting shapes Selena’s sense of vulnerability and resilience. How does the landscape demand adaptation? In what ways does the environment teach Selena to live differently?