The Water Dancer Reading Guide & Discussion Questions

Book Club Discussion Questions

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For supplemental discussion material see our Beyond the Book article, The Great Dismal Swamp Maroons and our BookBrowse Review of The Water Dancer.

Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!

1. Why do you think Coates uses terms like "Tasked" and "Quality" instead of "slaves" and "masters"? What do you think the novel gains from this altered language?
2. Hiram says that the Tasked are "Blessed, for we do not bear the weight of pretending pure." How does Coates define morality in the novel? In what ways does Hiram's notion of morality differ from that of the Quality, or even Corinne?
3. What do you make of Howell Walker's apology? To what extent does Coates humanize Howell? Why do you think he does this?

Unless otherwise stated, this discussion guide is reprinted with the permission of One World. Any page references refer to a USA edition of the book, usually the trade paperback version, and may vary in other editions.