Starling House

Opal, Arthur, and the third person narrator make several references to Greek mythology throughout the text. In what ways do these mythological allusions relate to The Interplay of Truth, Stories, and Power?

The text of Starling House alternates between a first-person and a third-person narrator. How does this stylistic choice influence your perception of the subjectivity of the story itself? Does the third-person narrator inject an element of objectivity into what would otherwise be an account of Opal’s personal experiences? Use examples from the text to support your interpretation.

Throughout the novel, there are many brief descriptions of racism, including the Gravely brothers’ abuse of the enslaved people at the mines, the town’s suspicions about several of the Starling House Wardens, and the microaggressions to which Jasper is subjected in school. How does the espousal of racism by the past and present residents of Eden impact the plot, characters, or themes of the novel?

Rage is often a central emotion of Gothic works that are written by women. In what ways is female rage expressed in Starling House?

The central narrative of the novel is punctuated by various drawings and footnotes, as well as the six stories of Starling House that are situated under their own headings. How do these additions to the primary text reflect the broader themes of the book?

Even after she discovers that she is related to the Gravelys, Opal refuses to refer to herself with this last name. What significance do names have in the novel, and what impact do they have on specific characters?

Starling House is frequently personified and described as if it is a living being. Using evidence from the text, make a case for the idea that Starling House is itself a character in the novel. Would you consider it to be a protagonist or an antagonist?

All Wardens of Starling House have been ostracized due to their appearance, race, class, sexuality, or nationality. What impact does this dynamic have on your understanding of Starling House as both a setting and a symbol?