Ecocriticism
Where is the story set?
Niagara Falls.
Traditional gender roles in the 1900's.
Her mother.
What year is the book set?
1915.
Who is the main character?
Bess.
What two things are intertwined in the novel?
Humans and nature.
Where does Bess work which was uncommon at the time?
With her father in a male dominated field.
What does the grief they struggle with repress?
Trauma which has not fully processed.
Who is the author? (bonus 100 points for full name)
Cathy Marie Buchanan.
What is the name of Bess' older sister who passed?
Isabel.
What do the Falls reflect?
Character struggles and changes.
What is Bess not afraid to speak about?
Her love for Tom and the social changes around her.
What do their subconscious minds do?
Shape their actions.
Who loses their job?
Mr. Heath.
Who is Bess' love interest?
Tom Cole.
What two human actions mainly affect the river?
Creating dams and altering structure of the river.
How does Bess show independence?
By making her own life choices.
What does the town's obsession with the falls mirror?
Internal conflicts including emotions and fear.
What does the town plan to do to the river?
Create new technology and transform the landscape.
Which character struggles with PTSD from WWI?
Tommy Heath.
When Bess watches the falls, what emotion does she feel?
Sadness.
What does Bess disregard?
Her decisions and how they may affect her family/society.
How is this theory proven?
Through the characters' subconscious minds.
What do the falls symbolize in Bess' eyes?
Undercurrents; that shape people who hide in their shadows.
Where does Mr. Heath work?
Niagara Power Company.