Enduring Questions at ECU: Engaging with The Women

Kristin Hannah (photo by Ruth Fremson/New York Times)

In this post, you will find links to questions about Kristin Hannah's The Women. These questions are identified by the chapters they refer to in the book and are listed in the order in which the issues they address are raised by the text.

Once you've started reading the chapters listed below, click on the links, read the corresponding questions and comments other readers may have left (click on the "comment" button beneath each post to see them), and then join the discussion (or initiate it).

Some question sets require further research. Some require watching a movie. One requires independent journal writing.

Most posts have several questions. You may answer any of them you wish. It is not necessary to answer all of them.

Answer the questions you consider to be most thought-provoking rather than those that are simply easiest to answer.

There are only two questions that every student is required to answer.  These are the last two, referred to here as “The Takeaway” and "The Tip of the Hat." Don't answer these until you've finished reading the book. Your answer to "The Takeaway" is your promise that you have read the entire book.

As you are reading, underline any passages that you consider to be thought-provoking, insightful, or artfully expressed (unless you're reading a library copy, in which case, you may want to just make note). You may want to refer to one of the passages you have underlined in "The Takeaway."

As you are working through this webpage, pay attention to comments left by other students. You will offer a "tip of the hat" to the author that made the most thought-provoking comment.

After you've finished the book, be prepared to discuss it at the 2025 Honors Burkean Parlor, which will meet from 7-8:30 pm on Monday, August 25th in the Chalmers Herman Theatre.

Note: Academic dishonesty of any kind (including the use of of AI to generate answers and not merely revise them) may result in expulsion from the program and loss of an Honors scholarship.

Chapters (some chapters are not included; some chapters have multiple question sets noted by letters: A, B, C, D, E).

1: "Heroes' wall"

2: A family duty
3: "A patriot"

4: "Babies"

5: What to bring

6: "Second-class citizens"
7: The degree

8: "A good guy"

9: Stars and Stripes
10: "Dance with me"

12: "The Guard was called in."

14: "Maybe it had always been a lie"

15A: "A child crying for her mother"

15B: "In his arms"