Lives of Girls and Women

Compare and contrast two settings in the collection—such as Jubilee, the Flats Road, Jenkin’s Bend, the Wawanash River, or the church. How do the settings impact Del’s development and character arc throughout the stories?

How does religion function in the text? What role does it play in Del’s understanding of the world?

Why does Del store Craig’s manuscript in the basement? Why isn’t she interested in finishing it, despite her interest in storytelling and writing? Support your response with evidence from the text.