The Red Tent

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. The red tent represents a sacred space where women gather to share stories, support one another, and observe rituals. What spaces in your life serve a similar function of community and sanctuary?

2. Throughout the novel, characters navigate complex family relationships and divided loyalties. Which character’s struggles with familial obligations resonated most strongly with you, and why?

3. How do you relate to Dinah’s journey of rebuilding her life after trauma? What aspects of her resilience speak to you most powerfully?

4. Consider the various mother-daughter relationships portrayed in the novel. How do they compare to your own experiences with maternal figures?

5. The novel explores how stories and traditions are passed down through generations. What meaningful traditions or stories have been passed down in your family?

Examine the book’s relevance to broader societal issues, cultural trends, and ethical dilemmas.

1. How does the novel’s treatment of menstruation and childbirth challenge or reflect historical and modern attitudes toward women’s reproductive experiences? What has changed, and what has remained the same?

2. The Red Tent portrays various religious beliefs and practices as coexisting in ancient times. What does this suggest about religious tolerance both then and now?

3. How does the novel’s exploration of gender roles and power dynamics relate to contemporary discussions about gender equality?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and use of narrative techniques.

1. Analyze the significance of dreams and prophecies throughout the novel. How do they function as both plot devices and character development tools?

2. How does Diamant use the symbol of water throughout the novel? Consider Dinah’s experiences at various rivers and what they represent in her journey.

3. Examine how the author develops the contrast between male and female spheres of influence. How does this contrast support the novel’s themes?

4. How does the character of Joseph serve as both a parallel and foil to Dinah? What does this relationship reveal about the novel’s broader themes?

5. Consider the role of names and naming in the novel. How do changes in characters’ names reflect their evolving identities?

6. Analyze how the structure of the novel—divided into “My Mothers’ Stories,” “My Story,” and “Egypt”—reflects Dinah’s development as a character.