A Children's Bible

Late in the novel, Evie’s mother quotes Voltaire as an excuse for not helping others, saying, “All we can do is cultivate our garden” (212). Given the quasi-biblical context of the novel, why is this remark particularly ironic?

At the great house, Evie is intrigued by a painting of a bear. How and why does the painting’s meaning change for her after the storm? How does the painting relate to her feeling of “hope” at the end of the novel?

Evie holds a grudging respect for the “emperors of timber or steel or rail” (12) who built the great house. In what ways does she esteem them more than her parents? Use specific examples from the text to support your analysis.

The “yacht kids” are of the same generation as Evie and her friends, yet their priorities and personalities are markedly different. Compare and contrast the two groups of teens, particularly their ideals, interests, and states of mind.

As the kids paddle their canoes to the beach, Terry mourns their decrepit “future role” as adults but adds that with enough willpower, they can be superior to their parents. He uses the myth of Icarus as an example. How does Terry misinterpret the myth of Icarus? What does his error say about the dangers of technology and the importance of learning from the past?

Burl and the “trail angels” are roughly the same age as the kids’ parents. Citing evidence from the text, compare and contrast the two groups of adults, focusing on their ideals, abilities, and behavior.

Correlate the farm owner’s 10 “rules” with the Bible’s Ten Commandments. How many “commandments” do the looters break?

Many of the biblical analogs in A Children’s Bible are inconsistent or multivalent. For instance, the character of Mattie corresponds to several biblical figures, including an angel, one of the Magi, St. Matthew, and Jesus. Find and analyze at least two other multi-purpose analogs in the novel, and explain their functions within Millet’s larger philosophical commentary.