Iron Lake

Explore the function of the Windigo in the story. How would the novel be different without the Windigo?

Compare several examples of different families in the novel. How does Iron Lake explore family connections? What legacies do parents pass on to their children?

Explore the responses to death in the white and Anishinaabe communities in Iron Lake. How do cultural expectations shape these responses?

Compare the novel’s female characters (i.e., Jo O’Connor, Wanda Manydeeds, Molly Nurmi). How do they contribute to the plot and the themes of the novel?

How does Cork’s relationship with his Anishinaabe heritage change and develop over the course of the story? Support your assertion with examples from the text.

Discuss the role that faith plays in the story and the ways in which different characters grapple with their faith.

Consider sexuality in the novel. How does Molly’s embracing of physical pleasure compare with Judge Parrant using the sexual expression of others against them? What determines the characters’ attitudes toward desire?

Iron Lake is a story of redemption, as Cork struggles to reclaim his place in his family and the Iron Lake community. Does he succeed? Why or why not?