The Whalebone Theatre

References to Homer’s epic poem, The Iliad, occur repeatedly in the text. What does the story mean to Cristabel, and how does it influence her life?

Explain why Cristabel is so eager for her “brother” to be born. In what ways does Digby meet Cristabel’s expectations? How does he diverge from them?

Chilcombe serves as a setting and a motif representing social change. How does the estate evolve during the narrative, and how does its transformation mirror the shifts in English society?

The novel presents inheritance as a burden rather than a privilege. Discuss the impact of inheritance on Jasper, Willoughby, and Digby. Who is the true inheritor of Chilcombe, and why?

The Whalebone Theatre is the central motif of the novel. What does the theatre represent, and how does its meaning change as the narrative progresses?

Discuss the different kinds of playacting performed in the novel and the purposes they serve for the characters.

The novel suggests that “[f]or a fortunate few, war allows us to rise in ways that would otherwise be impossible” (359). Describe the transformative effects of war on Cristabel, Digby, and Flossie.

Explain how the characters of Cristabel, Flossie, and Sophie Leray draw attention to the overlooked role of women during World War II.