Who is Tenar? Why is she called Goha at the beginning of the novel? Who was Goha once upon a time? How did Goha become the wife of a farmer? Who was she when she was Tenar? What happened to Goha when she was Tenar? Why does Goha begin to refer to herself as Tenar again as she sits with Ogion at his death bed? How does this change of identity lead Tenar to an identity crisis of sorts? How does Tenar work this out for herself?

Who is Sparrowhawk? How does he come to the Overfell? What name does Tenar use with Sparrowhawk? For what reason? How do they know each other? Why does Tenar fear for Sparrowhawk's life? What does Sparrowhawk reveal about himself when he wakes? Why does this revelation cause Sparrowhawk to become depressed? How does he overcome this depression...