The Mountain Between Us

What items in the novel symbolize the idea of love—either between Ben and Rachel or between Ben and Ashley? Choose two items, discuss what they symbolize, and explain how they develop the love between the characters. Choose items not discussed in the Symbols & Motifs section of this guide.

Identify two of Ben’s character traits that help him survive in the wilderness. How does his history with Rachel convey these character traits? What theme do they suggest? Provide textual evidence to support your answer.

At the novel’s end, Ben explains, “Maybe piecing is continual. Maybe the glue takes time to dry. Maybe bones take time to mend. Maybe it’s okay that the mess I call me is in process” (325). What theme do these words highlight? Trace the theme’s development throughout the text, identifying at least two literary elements that support it.

One of Ashley’s primary character traits is her humor. What role does it play in the novel? What theme does it convey? Discuss at least two scenes in depth that convey the importance and impact of Ashley’s humor, and include textual evidence.

When Ashley jokingly records a message for Rachel, she explains that Ben “plays his cards close to his chest” (151). Earlier, Ben recalls describing himself to Rachel as “a bit of an emotional blockhead” (119). Identify and analyze how these characteristics come into play in other scenes in the novel. How does Ben change throughout the novel with regard to these traits? Provide and analyze textual evidence that demonstrates these changes.

What components of Ben’s character link to his experience as a doctor? Discuss at least three scenes that emphasize these important traits, analyzing how his duties as a doctor—both in performing surgery and when interacting with patients and their families—contribute to these attributes and how they help him navigate a way out of the wilderness.

Reread the scene in which Ben runs to get help, on pages 290-92, from “I’ve spent my life running” to “spiraled above the trees.” What metaphor does the author use here in relation to the idea of “running”? What does this metaphor reveal about Ben’s character? How do these moments help convey the change that Ben makes in the novel?

How does the novel’s setting impact Ben and Ashley’s relationship? What aspects of the “survival” component of the novel help develop their love for each other? How do the extreme conditions cause each character to change in relation to that love?