The Blackthorn Key

Why did Sands use the first-person point of view to tell this story? How would the themes change if this story were told in the third person? Choose two important themes to illustrate your thesis.

What is the significance of the special occasions and saint's days included in the section headings? What does this show about the society Sands depicts?

Compare and contrast Christopher and Tom. How does Tom inform the reader's understanding of Christopher? In what ways is Tom a foil to Christopher? Use examples from the text to develop your argument.