Symbolism, Setting, and Objects from Gilead

Object Descriptions

This section provides a short description of all the major objects in the book. This can be printed out as a study guide for students, used as a "key" for leading a class discussion, or you can jump to the quiz/homework section to find worksheets that incorporate these descriptions into a variety of question formats.

Objects

Gilead, Iowa - The name of the community in which the novel is set.

Kansas - The state where the narrator's paternal grandfather goes after leaving the family home.

The Cemetery in Kansas - Where the narrator's paternal grandfather is buried.

Water - A common substance which, in the book, can represent the capacity for purification and natural beauty.

Grandfather's Eyes - Physical organs belonging to one of the main characters representing the character's tendency to be sly, watchful, and judgmental.

Grandfather's Gun - This is a souvenir from an encounter between a...
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