Essay Questions

To what end does Catching Teller Crow utilize a dual narrative structure?

The novel employs two distinct narrative voices: Beth Teller's direct, investigative perspective and Isobel Catching's poetic, allegorical tales. Beth's narrative provides readers with a grounded, straightforward understanding of the investigation from her and her father's eyes; Catching's stories, on the other hand, are more focused on the trauma she and other Indigenous Australians had to suffer through at the hands of white settlers. This juxtaposition underscores how interconnected modern-day life is with history. In the modern day and throughout history, Indigenous peoples were oppressed and treated horribly. Left uncorrected, bad behavior never changes. This structure reminds readers that reconciling past injustices is crucial to addressing present-day challenges.

How does grief play a part in the novel?

Grief plays an important part throughout Catching Teller Crow. Most prominently, Beth and her father, Michael, are rapt with guilt and grief. Although Beth features prominently in the novel, she is a spirit because of her death in a tragic car crash. Her presence is only because of her father's profound guilt, however. Rather than succumbing to his sorrow over the death of his daughter, he channels it into his work. He seeks justice for others, particularly members of the Indigenous community. Beth's decision to aid her father's investigation stems from her unresolved feelings and desire to find the closure that has prevented her spirit from truly moving on. Through the lens of the novel, grief can be immobilizing, but it can also be a powerful motivator for everyone who experiences it.

There is frequent imagery throughout the novel. Discuss its significance.

On one hand, fire represents destruction and death, which is evident in the physical and emotional devastations faced by characters (particularly the Indigenous peoples of Australia). However, it also represents purification and revelatory experiences. As the investigation progresses, fire imagery frequently accompanies moments of revelation for many of the characters, which suggests the burning away of deceit to reveal the truth about the town and the people that live within it.