The Winter Room

What is the purpose of Paulsen’s introductory chapter in the novel? What is the significance of “tuning” as a metaphor and concept for the readers’ experience, and why are the senses key to understanding the story?

Analyze the dynamic between Eldon and Wayne. How does their relationship affect each other’s character and their family? What does the author convey about the role of brotherhood in childhood by exploring the connection and conflicts between the two brothers?

Describe each season through Eldon’s perspective. In what ways do Eldon’s emotions and experiences challenge and enrich the literary symbolism of the seasons? Why does winter emerge as the most significant season in the narrative?

Discuss the symbolism of the winter room in the story. Why is it important for Eldon, and what does it signify for the whole family as a space?

Analyze Uncle David’s character and its role in the narrative. What does his character convey about the history, culture, and identity of Eldon’s family? How did the immigrant experience in America define his life?

Discuss Uncle David’s stories considering the elements of Norse mythology. What are the differences and similarities between the different narratives, and what is their impact on Eldon and Wayne’s psyche? How do they relate to the wider thematic elements in the novel?

Storytelling and its role in human experience is a key issue in Paulsen’s novel. What ideas are conveyed about the nature of storytelling through the characters in the story, particularly about the boundaries between fiction and reality?

Describe the characters’ interactions with the natural world. Why is nature important in the story? What are Paulsen’s overarching ideas about the impact of nature on human existence?