The Roar

Mika and Ellie share a deep emotional and psychic bond. How does this bond manifest itself and how does it relate to The Interconnectedness of the Natural World? Cite examples from the text to support your argument.

Why are the adults in Clayton’s novel so much quicker than the children to believe the government’s lie about The Plague? In what ways could that tendency be generational? In what ways does it conform to the requirements of the genre?

The demons populating Mika’s nightmares have television heads. What comment is Clayton making about the medium of television? How else does the novel critique the human obsession with technology?

What are some of the strategies Gorman and the YDF use to keep the poor population docile? Cite examples from the text to support your argument.

How does Clayton use the children’s genetic mutations to make a larger point about the fear of difference? What other prejudices does Mika face and how do they impact his worldview?

The novel’s primary conflict is between Mika and Gorman—good versus evil—but how is that conflict also commenting on youth versus age? Why are the children so frightened by Gorman’s physical appearance?

Awen is described in real, sensory terms (wet nose, soft fur) even though he exists as a creation of Mika’s imagination. What is Awen’s purpose in the narrative (and in Mika’s life)? What does his presence say about the human need for companionship?

What does the novel say about the importance of nature? When most of the world’s population lives in urban environments, why is access to the natural world so important?