Angelfall

Raffe is revealed to be the archangel Raphael, who is popularly associated with healing in modern Christianity. What does Raffe’s characterization reveal about the novel’s interpretation of angels as a whole? How does the novel differentiate him from humans?

At the end of the novel, Paige regains her ability to walk, though she may have lost some of her humanity in the process. What does this development suggest about the relationship between disability and humanity? How does it challenge or align with popular tropes about disability?

What does the novel assume about gender roles in the apocalypse? How are women presented throughout the text (including Penryn herself)? How does the collapse of society impact gender roles among the survivors? What does this suggest about the nature of patriarchy?

The novel is set entirely in Northern California, with only brief mentions of the rest of the world. How does this setting impact the book’s portrayal of apocalyptic events? What role does the setting play in the story?

How does Penryn’s identity as a teenager impact the narrative and themes? To what extent can this be classified as a coming-of-age novel? What developments signify Penryn’s coming of age? Use examples of her behavior in your answer.

Food is used as a motif for survival and luxury throughout the novel. Choose one example of something consumed in the novel (whether food or otherwise); how does this consumable develop the world and characters around it?

How does Penryn’s perspective on Raffe change over the course of the book? Is her view of him reliable, or is it warped by her attraction to him or by her anger at what the angels have done to her world? Use examples of his actions in your response.

What is Penryn’s motivation? Does this motivation change over the course of the book? Does she have multiple motives for her choices and actions?