The Dog Stars

Despite the devastating circumstances Hig and Bangley live in at the airport, Heller finds ways to lighten the narrative mood. Citing the text, identify one of these moments and describe the effect it has on the mood of the chapter. 

Why is this book called The Dog Stars? What does Heller wish to communicate by titling the book what he has?

Throughout the book, Heller dedicates lengthy passages to physical description of the world Hig inhabits, often naming animals, plants, and trees. What is Heller’s narrative strategy for doing so? How does this description communicate the book’s thematic aspirations?

 Analyze the different stages of Hig and Bangley’s relationship as the novel evolves. 

What does Hig’s love of flying represent in the novel? What specific moments communicate this feeling or feelings?

What role do the Mennonite families Hig visits play in the novel? Why does Hig hide the fact he visits the families from Bangley?

A few times in the novel, Hig refers to Norwegian horses living far from their home conditions. Why does Heller use this metaphor and how does it connect to Hig and Bangley’s reality?

Heller waits until the final third of the book before exploring exactly how the flu, then blood disease, spread. Why do you think Heller made this narrative decision?