The Essex Serpent

The journey from the city to the countryside marks a journey into the unknown. In what ways is the rural area of Essex made to seem strange and otherworldly in the text?

Given the scant institutional support available to the people of Aldwinter, how important a role does the church play in the lives of the villagers?

Martha is the most politically active character in the text. In what ways does she put the theory of her politics into practice, and does she succeed?

At the beginning of the novel, Joanna and Naomi cast protective spells over the village. What effect do these spells have on Naomi, and how does her relationship with Joanna influence her character?

One of the key literary devices used in the text is the replication of letters between the characters. How do the formatting details of the letters, such as modes of address and dates, affect the audience’s interpretation of the characters and their intentions?

By the end of the novel, the Essex Serpent is proven to be a myth. What power does the Serpent possess as a metaphysical being? Is it able to affect Aldwinter, even though it does not exist?

The scuttled ship on the shore of the Blackwater, known as Leviathan, plays host to several important events in the text. What is the symbolic meaning of Leviathan?

Several characters perform surgery or have surgery performed on them. How do these surgeries alter the emotional and ideological perspective of these characters?