71 pages • 2 hours read
Tamsyn MuirHarrow the Ninth
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2020A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Essay Topics
Harrow the Ninth is full of references to high and low art: References to Shakespeare exist in the same sentences as references to Slim Shady. Examine an instance of lofty cultural references existing next to references of modern media. Why does Muir intertwine the two? What might it suggest about Muir’s views on art?
Why are the chapters that take place in the false Canaan House told from third person limited? What impact does Gideon’s absence from the narration have?
How does Gideon’s grief manifest in her narration? How do the nature and object of her grieving differ from Harrow’s?
Pick a scene or passage that alludes to the Bible or Christian theology. How does Muir use Christian theology and mythos to nuance or deepen her own literary aims?
What is the purpose of humor in Harrow? How does humor disrupt or exacerbate the heavier emotions of the narrative?
Why does Muir choose to narrate and present Harrow in such a confusingly obtuse manner? How would Harrow be different if it were narrated and presented in a more typically chronological order?
How does dramatic irony function in Harrow? How does the use of dramatic irony alter the reader’s perception of Harrow as a character?
Why does Muir ground the text in the language, conventions, and allusions to classical Greek theater and tragedy? What about Harrow’s journey mirrors the narrative arcs and conventions of classical Greek tragedy?
Why does Gideon consider Ianthe’s decision to save John a bad one? What might this suggest about Gideon’s character and relationship to her father? How does this contrast with her relationship with her mother?
How is the theme of grief explored in the elder Lyctors? How does their grief differ from Harrow’s, and what might that say about Harrow’s own relationship to grief?
