114 pages • 3-hour read
The Night Watchman
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Essay Topics
Pick one character and analyze their growth throughout this novel. How do they interact with the themes of survival, connection to the land, the trauma of boarding schools, and/or the unique experience of Indigenous women?
What role do the two Mormon missionaries play, and how do they connect to the novel’s portrayal of religion?
Consider the theme of the lasting trauma of Indigenous American board schools as it appears in this novel. How does it affect Thomas, LaBatte, Roderick, and Pogo?
What are the effects of Erdrich basing the novel in part on her family’s own history?
Think about the theme of connection to the land. What does land symbolize? How does it connect with the novel’s conflicts?
Why does Patrice want to stop going by “Pixie”? How does it fit in to her development over the course of the novel?
What strategies do Thomas and the rest of the Turtle Mountain tribal council use to advocate against House Concurrent Resolution 108?
How does Erdrich combat stereotypes about Indigenous people? Choose three examples and explain their significance.
Considers the role that settings play in the plot. Compare and contrast the cities in this novel with the reservation.
What is the role of Indigenous tradition in this novel?
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