: Suggest that the novel uses the metaphor of the forest to explore how family legacy, environmental responsibility, and human "roots" are inextricably linked across generations. II. Key Themes for Analysis The Metaphor of "Roots" :
Compare the environmental stresses of the fictional 2038 to modern-day ecological concerns. : Greenwood Michael Christiezip
Argue that the "best sacrifices" in the novel are often made away from public view. : Suggest that the novel uses the metaphor
: Discuss how the Greenwood family's history is as "tangled" as the roots of the ancient trees they depend on. Greenwood Michael Christiezip
Drafting a paper on novel Greenwood requires an understanding of its unique structure, which mimics the growth rings of a tree by moving backward and then forward through time.