Indian Killer

How does Alexie use unreliable viewpoints and the blurring of dream and reality to reflect both mental health issues and the possibility of a more magical or spiritual explanation for the murders?

Marie is highly critical of Mather’s position and approach to Native American Studies. What are the key aspects of her critique, and to what degree is her perspective valid?

Stories are highly significant within the novel. How does Alexie use this motif to explore ideas of Indian identity and sovereignty?

Many of the Indian characters struggle with a sense of identity. To what degree is this struggle the result of white people defining what it means to be Indian?

At the close of the novel, the police conclude that John is the Indian Killer. However, Alexie leaves the killer’s identity ambiguous. What evidence supports or challenges the police’s conclusion?

In what ways does the motif of “real” Indians help to illuminate the book’s concern with identity and belonging?

How does Alexie explore the cyclical nature of violence and revenge through his characters’ actions?

Both John and Wilson seek an Indian identity to find a sense of belonging, but in what ways do their experiences and attitudes differ?