51 pages 1 hour read

Alix E. Harrow

Starling House

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2023

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Essay Topics

1.

The epilogue mentions that Opal and Arthur are writing a book about the true story of Starling House. Does this aspect of the text suggest that the novel Starling House is meant to be viewed as Opal and Arthur’s version of the story? How would this metafictional interpretation influence your understanding of the characters’ development throughout the novel?

2.

Opal, Arthur, and the third person narrator make several references to Greek mythology throughout the text. In what ways do these mythological allusions relate to The Interplay of Truth, Stories, and Power?

3.

The text of Starling House alternates between a first-person and a third-person narrator. How does this stylistic choice influence your perception of the subjectivity of the story itself? Does the third-person narrator inject an element of objectivity into what would otherwise be an account of Opal’s personal experiences? Use examples from the text to support your interpretation.