Green Grass, Running Water Lesson Plan

What is the significance of the title?

Students may believe the “running water” part of the title refers to the water motif in the novel. Water carries the cars away. It is held back by the dam. It dominates each of the creation stories. Water is a powerful and cleansing force. Other students may say the title shows the novel’s deep connection to nature. So much of the novel is dedicated to the creation of the Earth. Eli’s entire storyline also underscores the importance of nature in Native American cultures—as well as the tendency of Western culture to destroy that nature for profit. Literary scholars posit that the title actually comes from a promise the Canadian...