2. How is Peter Sample's life described at the start of Part Two, Chapter 1? Do not use the exact information provided, but make inferences that can be drawn. Write in your own words.

3. Why is Sarah Jane truly concerned about Ezra's car accident?

4. Upon Irene's first visit to Michael Christopher's church, what is his interpretation and the importance of the Bible verse from Luke?

5. How does Irene view Peter Sample's courtship? What brings her to marry Peter, even though internally she has reservations?

6. Using the quote, "...when she'd [Irene] gave no indication that anything unusual had happened or was about to happen or would continue happening without interruption in the days to follow" (127), what might the reader assume about Irene's disappearance?

7. The story shifts to the future as Jeremy works his new job and demolishes a shed. It ends by saying, "The shock of the impact, the satisfying crunch of boards cracking under hard steel, the muffled sounds of everything inside being quickly crumpled into unrecognizable pulp" (160). What does Jeremy's illustration say about his past experience in Lisa's shed? In what ways does the account provide further insight into Jeremy's development as a character?

8. How does Lisa explain her reasoning to Sarah Jane for taking the videos and adding the scenes into the movies?

9. When Irene leaves Bible study early and tells Peter it is because the others did not like the question she is asking, what sort of questions is Irene most likely asking that are controversial?

10. In Part Three, Chapter 1, what are the two versions of where Irene may be according to the narrator? How do the different stories leave out any definite information?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Jeremy and Stephanie visit Lisa's farmhouse for the first time, and they argue whether or not to contact the police after they leave, because Lisa has videotaped them and asked strange questions. At the end of the section, Jeremy states, "Try to put yourself in her [Lisa] shoes" (184). What does Jeremy mean by this statement? How does Jeremy know what it is like to be in Lisa's shoes? What past knowledge and events explain why Lisa's previous experiences cause her to make the videos?

Essay Topic 2

Part Three, Chapter 4 is set in the future and casts Jeremy as a worker who is rebuilding a shed. His co-worker is surprised that Jeremy knows so much about old sheds and how they are made. Jeremy's memories of being at Lisa Sample’s years before overtake him, and new discoveries are presented through this experience. What does Jeremy explain about his experience at Lisa's house? How do his understandings and revealings relate to Jeremy's growth and change of character from past to present?

Essay Topic 3

The narrative ends with Emily Pratt developing some of her photographs from Iowa in the cellar darkroom. She muses, "Still, when she [Emily] considered her best shot from that morning...she wondered what she'd already missed, what had gone missing from Iowa before she ever got there. There is no way knowing" (214). Emily's character does not know the story of Lisa Sample, but yet her words connect to the development and interactions of all characters in a previous time. Once again, the themes of loss, loss of memory, loss of knowledge, or loss of understanding are related from a character who has not been a part of the plot. How does this quote relate to the emotions and actions of other characters? Choose two to three characters to examine through the lens of this quote.

(see the answer keys)

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