How does McMurtry’s use of shifting points of view and fragmented timelines shape the novel’s depiction of its characters? Cite specific evidence from the text to support your analysis.

How does the inclusion of secondary characters like Billy Williams or Charles Goodnight contribute to the novel’s thematic exploration of The Myth of the Frontier Hero? What do these stories of obsolescence argue about the nature of heroism?

Analyze the conflict between masculine codes of honor and feminine codes of survival in the novel. Does the narrative ultimately endorse one worldview over the other?

What literary techniques does McMurtry use to portray violence realistically? In what ways does he reinforce or subvert the conventions of the Revisionist Western genre?

Compare and contrast McMurtry’s novel with another novel that centers on The Tensions of Industrialization, such as The Pioneers by James Fenimore Cooper or The Sisters Brothers by Patrick Dewitt.

How does Pea Eye and Lorena’s marriage reinforce or subvert traditional definitions of masculinity and femininity?

The novel originated as a screenplay, written for actors like John Wayne and Jimmy Stewart who were in their mid-60s. How does knowledge of this origin influence a reading of Call’s character arc and the novel’s overall tone?

What does McMurtry’s portrayal of Maria and Lorena convey about the power and limitations of Maternal Devotion?