This Motherless Land

Aside from Margot, identify another antagonist in the text. In what ways does he/she push back against the protagonist(s) of the text? Analyze how they facilitate the protagonist(s) growth and development.

This Motherless Land often examines prejudice in the characters’ lives. How do characters experience prejudice, and how do they perpetuate prejudice against others?

How do Funke and Liv’s characters mirror each other in the text? How are they different or similar in their experiences, attitudes, and/or challenges?

This Motherless Land is a decolonial retelling of Mansfield Park. Compare and contrast This Motherless Land with another decolonial text. What common themes and ideas do the two texts examine? In what ways are they different or similar in their treatment of these themes?

This Motherless Land is a Bildungsroman. How does the novel conform to, or diverge from, some of the common tropes and devices used in a traditional Bildungsroman?

Funke’s “mantra” in the novel is the phrase “Eniyan l’aso mi” (179), which is Yoruba for “humans are my clothing.” Analyze the significance of this phrase and how it applies to Funke’s life. What role do others play in her character development? How does the phrase reflect some of the novel’s key themes and ideas?

Early in the novel, Funke notes how her mother believes that “jealousy was the most evil thing in the world” (4). In what ways is this sentiment true in the novel? Discuss the literary elements of characterization, conflict, and/or theme in your response.

Analyze the role of trauma in the text. What different forms of trauma does the text explore? How does trauma influence or shape the ideas, feelings, and/or trajectories of the characters in This Motherless Land?