The Mountain in the Sea

Author Ray Nayler has commented on the meaning of the novel’s title as a nod to the theme of seeing things from different perspectives: “What humans call islands are the tops of mountains in the sea” (Nayler, Ray. “Ray Nayler Answers Your Questions About The Mountain in the Sea.” YouTube, uploaded by Hugonauts, 11 Dec. 2023). How do the characters’ views about the archipelago differ? What does Con Dao represent for Ha, Altantsetseg, Evrim, and Dr. Mínervudóttir-Chan, the locals Son and Da Minh, and the octopuses? Pick three characters who have differing views and examine why, using textual evidence.

How do epigraphs function in the novel? Choose one epigraph and distill its meaning. Then analyze its significance to the chapter, the characters, and/or the novel’s themes.

Many characters in the novel experience profound loneliness and alienation. Choose two characters and analyze the source of their isolation and their means of coping. Using textual evidence, explore how the novel contextualizes isolation in relation to the barriers that exist between individuals and/or between an individual and society.