57 pages • 1 hour read
Ann PatchettThe Patron Saint of Liars
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1992A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Essay Topics
Throughout the novel, many of the characters lie in some way. In your opinion, which lies are good lies, and which ones are bad? Explain why.
In the novel, the hot spring seems to have healing properties and Sister Evangeline appears to have supernatural powers. Do you believe that they are truly magical? Why or why not? How do these elements affect the plot of the novel?
Do you think of Saint Elizabeth’s as a place of positivity or punishment? Explain, with evidence from the text.
Consider the female characters in the novel and their various attitudes to motherhood. Compare and contrast two of them.
Analyze Rose’s relationship with Thomas. Why do you think she found her marriage to him so stifling? In what way is her marriage to Son similar or different?
Helen and Rose are described as being exceptionally beautiful, while Sissy feels she isn’t good-looking and resents not having her mother’s looks. What role does beauty play in developing the characters and plot of the novel?
Rose is a talented cook and can use her cooking ability to stay at Saint Elizabeth’s. Explore a specific moment where food highlights the theme of The Power of Mother-Daughter Relationships.
Is the original Cecilia a positive or negative influence on Son? Explore a specific moment when she influences him to explain your argument.
The people of Habit, Kentucky, are set in their ways and reluctant to change. Which characters in the novel are also portrayed as being creatures of habit? Discuss, with examples, how the novel shows that traditions and habits can be both positive and negative.
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By Ann Patchett
