In what ways did Elinor and Michael Mompellion become parental figures to Anna?

How and why did the people become divided as the plague devastated the village?

What supernatural beliefs surfaced as a result of the plague, and how did those beliefs conflict with religion?

What about Anys Gowdie appealed to Anna?

How did women in the novel show greater strength than the men possessed?

Lust is one of the sins explored in this novel through Elinor, Jane Martin, Anys Gowdie and Anna. What was the motivation and result of lust for these women?

Anna and Michael Mompellion experienced a loss of faith by the end of the novel. How did they each cope with this loss?

After the plague, Michael Mompellion says he regrets his decision to isolate the village as more might have been saved. Was the sacrifice worth the price? What...