Out Stealing Horses

Evaluate the depictions of and attitudes toward women in the novel. What observations does Trond make, and what does this suggest?

Trond frequently makes note of his father’s interest in mechanics and of the brands of machines that many of his neighbors rely on. In what ways does this fascination with machinery contrast with the old-fashioned methods of doing things that Trond remembers from his youth? What is the significance of this contrast?

How are physical and moral strength exemplified by the characters in the novel, and what role does gender play in perceptions of strength?

How does the novel emphasize differences between life in the city of Oslo and the wooded villages? In what ways is Trond’s life, like his father’s, divided by his time in these two settings?

Lyra is a constellation visible in the Norwegian sky during the summer months. What is the significance of Trond’s dog being named Lyra? What does she represent to him?

Allusions to artists (Rene Magritte, Charles Dickens, Arthur Rimbaud, and others) and to popular culture (Westerns, Lassie, and other often American characters) appear throughout Trond’s meditations and recollections. Choose one allusion to research. What is the meaning of that allusion in the novel?

The novel is described as a coming-of-age story. What coming-of-age transformations does Trond experience during the summer of 1948? How are the lessons he learns from them still apparent in 1999?

Trond’s recollections and in particular his descriptions of nature often include paragraph-length sentences that contain poetic rhythms and imagery. What is the impact of Per Petterson’s sentence structure and rhythm on the reader? How does Petterson’s writing style develop characterization and theme?