How Much Of These Hills Is Gold

Burials feature prominently in the plot. Give examples. Why does Ma say that funerary rituals are important?

Lucy and Sam possess very different personalities. Compare and contrast them. In your opinion, which one would have an easier time finding a real home?

Throughout the novel the reader’s perception of the major characters shifts. Give two examples of radical personal transformations.

Because of the lack of ending punctuation, the book’s title can be interpreted in more than one way. Discuss its possible meanings.

What role does gold play in How Much of These Hills Is Gold? Explain its significance as a symbol and as a narrative device.

Comment on possible reasons why Lucy has such a hard time forging an identity for herself. What does home mean to her?

Tigers are a central motif in the novel. Talk about their symbolic meaning. Where do they appear in the story? Why?

Examine how Ba’s story contradicts Lucy’s narrative. How does it change the reader’s perception of the characters?