Still Life

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2005

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Summary

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-3

Chapters 4-6

Chapters 7-9

Chapters 10-12

Chapters 13-14

Character Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Tools

Discussion Questions

Essay Topics

The title, Still Life, may refer to a genre of artwork or to a certain kind of life, as defined in the text by Myrna and Gamache. What relevance does each meaning carry? Do the two meanings coalesce in any way?

After initial selecting Matthew 10:36, Clara selects “Surprised by Joy” as the inscription on Jane’s headstone. How was Jane, and perhaps Clara, “surprised by joy”? What does the change from one inscription to the other suggest about Clara’s evolving feelings about Jane’s death?

In many mystery novels, the detective is a private, consulting, or amateur sleuth, making the official police appear incompetent. What is the significance of Penny’s decision to position Gamache as a member of Quebec’s official police force?