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1. What are blue highways?

The phrase "blue highways" comes from the old highway maps of America. The back roads are highlighted in blue on these maps. The author finds these open roads alluring, a "place where a man can lose himself."

2. What causes William to travel across America?

William loses his job teaching at a college. He is separated from his wife and learns that she is dating someone else. He decides that if he can't make things better, he can at least "go" and find a reprieve from routine and the problems of his life.

3. Why does William name his van "Ghost Dancing"?

William names his van Ghost Dancing as a symbol referring to the Plains Indians of the 1890s, who danced to bring back the old ways of life. William also wants to discover meaning in this land in which he sometimes feels like an alien.

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