The Water Dancer

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of racism, gender discrimination, physical abuse, and child death.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. What distinguishes Coates’ approach to the slavery narrative from other works in this genre? Have you encountered other neo-slavery narratives, such as Toni Morrison’s Beloved? How does The Water Dancer compare in its blend of supernatural elements with historical realism?

2. Coates weaves together elements of historical fiction, fantasy, and the slavery narrative tradition throughout The Water Dancer. What aspects of this genre-blending approach resonated most strongly with you as a reader?

3. The novel presents Conduction as both a supernatural power and a metaphor for memory and storytelling. To what extent did this central concept work for you in advancing the story’s themes about trauma, healing, and cultural connection?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Hiram struggles with conflicting loyalties between serving himself and serving his community throughout the novel. Can you think of times in your own life when you’ve faced similar tensions between personal desires and broader responsibilities?

2. The relationship between Hiram and Sophia is complicated by the realities of enslavement, including questions of autonomy and choice. In what ways did their dynamic make you reflect on how external circumstances can shape intimate relationships?

3. What role do family stories and inherited memories play in shaping your own sense of identity? How did Hiram’s journey to recover his memories of his mother resonate with your own relationship to family history?

4. Thena initially rejects Hiram’s offer of freedom because confronting hope feels too painful after years of loss. She has learned to numb herself to grief by accepting that her children are gone forever. Have you ever found yourself in situations where hope felt more dangerous than acceptance?

5. Throughout the novel, characters must make morally complex choices with no clear right answer. Can you identify a character’s difficult decision that resonated most with your own experiences of navigating ethical dilemmas?

6. Can you recall a time when your understanding of an important issue evolved significantly through exposure to different viewpoints? How did Hiram’s gradual education about the true nature of enslavement mirror your own experiences of changing perspectives?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. How does the Underground’s structure and methods compare to modern activist networks? What parallels do you see between this fictional resistance movement and contemporary social justice organizations?

2. Coates portrays the economic foundations of slavery through the declining fortunes of Virginia’s plantation families. The Walkers face mounting debts as soil exhaustion and westward expansion threaten their way of life. How does this economic lens connect to ongoing discussions about wealth inequality and systemic injustice in America today?

3. In what ways do Sophia’s and Thena’s experiences illuminate gender-based oppression that persists in different forms today? How does the novel’s attention to enslaved women’s specific challenges enhance your understanding of intersectional oppression?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. Water appears throughout the novel as both a literal setting and a complex symbol. In what ways does Coates use water imagery to explore themes of memory, trauma, transformation, and cultural connection?

2. The structure of The Water Dancer moves between different time periods and locations as Hiram’s story unfolds. What impact did this nonlinear storytelling approach have on your understanding of Hiram’s character development?

3. Coates creates several morally complex characters, particularly Corrine Quinn, who commits terrible acts in service of ending slavery. She subjects Hiram to torture and refuses to prioritize individual rescue over strategic goals. How does the author use this moral ambiguity to complicate traditional narratives about abolitionists and the fight against slavery?

4. The novel presents the Quality as dependent on the Tasked despite their supposed superiority. Which specific techniques does Coates use to expose the contradictions and weaknesses inherent in the system of slavery?

5. How does Coates use the contrast between Hiram and Maynard to challenge assumptions about intelligence, capability, and worth based on race and social status?

6. The shell necklace serves as both a plot device and a powerful symbol throughout the story. What functions does this object serve in connecting themes of memory, inheritance, and cultural identity?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Imagine you could design a museum exhibit about the Underground as depicted in the novel. This secret organization operates with sophisticated structure, codes, and strategies that differ from the historical Underground Railroad. What artifacts, documents, or interactive elements would you include to help visitors understand this clandestine resistance movement?

2. If you could step into the world of The Water Dancer as a character, which community would you choose to join and what role would you want to play?

3. Coates leaves certain aspects of Conduction mysterious, including its ultimate origins and full potential. Create your own theory about how this power first developed and what other abilities it might encompass beyond what we see in the novel?