The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams

Choose one historical, literary, or mythological allusion within the novel and research it. How does this allusion expand the world and setting of the novel? What does it symbolize and how does it interact with the characterization of the character that used it?

Discuss the novel’s treatment of religion. Samir’s relationship with religion is playful and casual, but how is it treated overall within the novel? Does Monkey seem to take it seriously, or is this also a front for the audience? What does this say about the novel as a whole?

What are the narrative and stylistic differences between the first part of the novel (narrated to the soldiers) and the last part of the novel (told to the reader or an unknown audience)? What can be understood about Monkey’s character from these differences? How does this change the meaning of the first part of the novel?

Is Samir a good person? How does the novel examine and deconstruct the idea of being a “good person?” Does Samir’s goodness matter to the overall message of the novel?

Many of the goods Samir and Monkey buy for no particular reason later become extremely significant to the plot (or their survival) later. How does this tie into the general theme of finding value in everything? What does this also say about Monkey himself?

What is the general view of children within the novel? Do any of the characters treat Monkey as a child (in a positive or negative sense)? What does this convey about the perspective of both the individual and the world at large?

The multiculturalism of the Silk Road is especially important to the setting of the novel. Choose another literary element, such as tone, and discuss how Nayeri uses multiculturalism to explore and develop it.

What is Rostam’s role within the work? What does he symbolize? What does he reveal about Samir and Monkey as characters?