Waterlily

In the novel, the Dakotas have brief yet significant dealings with white men. Analyze the Dakotas’ perception of white men and how it changes over time.

There are three main roles for women: wife, perpetual virgin, and promiscuous woman. Discuss these categories of identity and what they say about the community in which they are entrenched.

How does the Dakota heritage of the author, Ella Cara Deloria, affect your reading of the text? Reflect on the concept of the culture/background of the author lending validity to the novel you read.

The Dakotas have a strong connection to nature. Pick two or three characters and use specific examples in the text to display their connection to nature and the meaning they derive therein.

How are horses significant in Dakota culture? In your analysis, address both practical and symbolic levels.

Discuss the character trajectories of Blue Bird and Waterlily. Do they demonstrate any notable change over time in regard to expressing agency and developing personalities? If not, speak to why that may not be the case.

Discuss the significance of ritual objects in the text. What role do they play in Dakota culture?

Deloria writes the novel in third person omniscient, devoting varying degrees of perspective to different characters. Analyze this choice and discuss how it affects your reading experience.