Characters
What is the name of the daughter?
Tanya
Where is Tanya's body discovered?
Behind the old fish factory.
What mood does Oats create in the story?
Unsettling or serious mood.
Is the story told in first person or third person?
First person.
Who narrates the story?
Tanya's mother
What tragedy affects Tanya's family?
Tanya's death.
What type of writing is Oates best known for?
Novels and short stories.
Whose perspective do readers mainly experience?
Tanya's mother's.
What is the mother struggling with after Tanya's death?
What happens to the body after it is discovered?
It disappears.
How many novels did Oates write?
66
Does the reader learn about Tanya directly or through her mother's memories?
Mainly through her mother's memories.
What happens to the parents' marriage after the tragedy?
Their marriage falls apart.
What major event contributes to the breakdown of the parents' marriage?
The tragedy surrounding Tanya's death and disappearance.
Which state in the US was Oates born in?
New York
How might the mother's emotions affect her version of events?
They can influence what she emphasizes or leaves out.
How does the mother view her role in Tanya's life?
She questions if she failed to understand her daughter.
What does the mother do throughout the story?
She remembers Tanya and tries to make sense of what happened to her.
What prestigious literary award did Oates win for her novel them?
National Book award.
Why should readers question the mother's account?
Her grief and guilt may affect how she remembers and explains events.