The Waters

From the narrative’s use of the phrase “Once upon a time” (1) to its reliance on tropes such as an evil witch and a troll living in a swamp, the novel explicitly situates itself in a fairy-tale atmosphere. What real-life lessons about human nature are contained within Bonnie Jo Campbell’s invocation of these fairy-tale tropes? Analyze specific examples from the text to support your position.

Hermine, Donkey, and Rose Thorn all suffer significant physical wounds during the course of the novel. What repercussions does each injury have, and how do these wounds parallel one another thematically?

Rose Thorn refuses to tell Donkey the identity of her father. What motivates Rose Thorn’s refusal?