Song Yet Sung Discussion Questions
- When we first meet Liz, she is on the run from her master. Yet throughout the book she refuses offers of passage to the North, saying, "I'm free here." What do you think Liz's plan was when she first ran away? If she was planning to go North, what changed her mind? Or did she simply wish to die in the wilds of Maryland.
- Discuss the author's use of language. How does he evoke the speech patterns of an earlier era? What techniques does he use to bring the rural Maryland eastern shore to life?
- Although he was a notorious slave catcher, Dengwood Long - "the Gimp" - commands a degree of respect even from those he has caught. But he himself claims, "I'm going to hell in spite of redemption." Based on his actions in the book, do you think he is worthy of respect? Do you find him sympathetic? Do you think he has found any measure of redemption by the end of the story?
- McBride is clearly critical of the infuence rap music and gang culture has upon American life, as evidenced by Liz's nightmares about the future. Why do you think he inserted this editorial comment into the novel? Do you feel that these sections enhanced or detracted from your reading of Song Yet Sung?
- Discuss the death of the Woolman. What motivates Liz to kill him? Is it an act of mercy?
- Amber believes that, "Some [people] is up to the job of being decent, and some ain't." What do you think of this assessment? Is decency an inherent trait, or is it a conscious choice? Based on the characters and events in this book, what do you think the author's answer to this question would be?
- While it is commonly believed that escaping slaves used quilts as a means of communication, there are those who dispute that theory. Were the details about how slaves escaped and the tools used by those who helped them important to your reading of the novel?
- Consider the ending of the novel - the violent deaths and Liz's precarious future. At the same time, Amber is free, Kathleen's future is secure, and Woolman's son offers a link to the far-off coming of the song yet sung. Overall, did this novel leave you with a sense of hope? Did it provide you with any new insights?
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