Content Warning: This section of the guide describes and discusses the novel’s treatment of cultural erasure and religious coercion. This section also contains references to abuse.

“Let the reindeer decide.”

"Let the reindeer decide" contains symbolism, where the reindeer represent the natural world's autonomy and wisdom. The proverb argues that humans should respect and follow nature. This phrase encapsulates a surrender to nature's inherent knowledge and decisions, embodying a trust in natural processes.

“The prospect hadn’t bothered him, it had seemed like a pleasant thing to lose one’s mind, but now he saw the terror of having no control over what one believed, of having lost any fastness to truth.”

This quote employs juxtaposition. The initial notion of “los[ing] one’s mind” as pleasant contrasts with the sudden realization of its associated terror. This shift in perception speaks to a duality of mental freedom and the inherent danger in losing one's grasp on reality.

“Willa wondered if her father had it all wrong, if the earthquake was meant for her, if God had seen into her heart and found her wanting. He had searched her and known her, he had tried her and known her thoughts. He had seen there was a wicked way in her.”

Anaphora is seen in the repetition of "he had" at the beginning of successive clauses. This repetition emphasizes Willa's introspection and the intense scrutiny she feels under a divine gaze, highlighting her internal conflict and perceived moral shortcomings.