The Maidens

The novel begins on an unseasonably warm October day: “[T]he Indian summer prevailed, like an obstinate party guest, refusing to heed the hints from the dying leaves on the trees that it might be time to go” (8). Using at least three examples, explore the significance of weather descriptions in the novel.

Early in the novel, Mariana views her niece through a stained-glass window that “[breaks] up Zoe’s image, fracturing it into a jigsaw of diamond shapes” (55). Drawing on three specific examples from the text, explore what the window represents about Mariana’s fractured emotional state and its impact on how the narrative unfolds.

Describing the fear of knowing a murderer walks among them, Mariana notes, “His invisibility made him into something more than human, something supernatural: a creature born from myth, a phantom” (190). Consider the significance of mythical figures in the novel, especially as they relate to the murders. Use at least three specific examples in your discussion.

Drawing on at least three specific examples, discuss how the novel’s structure enacts its themes.

When Mariana meets with Theo to discuss the case, he asks her, “Why is [the murderer] trying to blind us? What doesn’t he want us to see?” (258). To what extent does Theo’s question apply to Mariana? Explore this, drawing on at least three moments in the narrative when it is evident that Mariana is avoiding facing a frightening truth.

What is the significance of the Demeter and Persephone myth in the novel and in Mariana and Zoe’s relationship especially?

Just before Zoe reveals who wrote the letter Mariana read, “The sun suddenly went behind a cloud, and time seemed to slow to a crawl. Mariana could hear the first drops of rain, tapping at the stone windowsill in the folly, and an owl screeching somewhere in the distance” (338). Examine the use of compressed and elongated time in the novel, drawing on at least three specific uses.

The Maidens contains many references to art, mythology, philosophy, and literature. What do these references contribute to the story’s development? To what extent does a reader’s appreciation of the novel depend on familiarity with the references? Support your answer with specific examples from the text.