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The Raging Quiet by Sherryl Jordan

Summary:

Unwillingly forced into a dreadful marriage to the lord of her parent's farm, Marnie sincerely wishes that her husband would no longer want her, so she can be independent and on her own. To her and the town's surprise, her husband falls to his death days later from thatching the roof of their house on the shore of the sea. With no will left for family inheritance, Marnie is left with the house and a few of her husbands belongings, just enough for her to survive. With only a priest and a strange mad boy good for company and kindness, Marnie is lonely and struggling. Raver, the strange young boy believed by the people of the town to be possessed by demons, is taken one night by Marnie and housed and fed. It is then that they begin to bond, and she discovers that he is not mad, but deaf.

Marnie struggles to communicate with Raver, and she succeeds by inventing a hand system for words that they can both understand. While Raver learns quickly of their new communication system, and Marnies bond with him grows deeper, the town's people grow suspicious. They believe she played a role in her husbands death, and that her hand signals with Raven are a sign of witchcraft, a sure sign of pure evil. Convinced that she does not need to prove the towns' people wrong, she continues to spend time with Raver, and their bond grows into a deep love. As their love deepens, they begin to uncover and understand the mystery behind the cottage, how much they really need each other, and the risks they must take to pursue their love.

Discussion questions

  1. How was Marnie forced into marriage with Isake? How did it make her feel? How would you feel?
  2. Describe the two days Marnie spent with Isake as his wife. In what ways did Isake provoke her intolerable and repulsive feelings towards him?
  3. Do you believe that Isake's death had anything to do with Marnie's prayer? Why or Why not?
  4. Put yourself in the position of a villager in the town of Torcurra. How would you feel towards Marnie if you witnessed her "confession" in the church?
  5. What were Marnie's first impressions of Raver? Who and what did she think he was?
  6. What did Marnie change Raver's name to? Why? Is it a fitting name? Think of another name for Raver, and explain why.
  7. Read and analyze Marnie's descriptions of Raver, before and while she knew him. What do they say about her feeling towards him? What did you predict the outcome of their relationship would be?
  8. How does Marnie feel and act towards Raver's first outburst? Was she overreacting? Why or why not?
  9. What was the priest's attitude towards the sign language that Marnie initiated with Raven? The villagers attitude towards it? Were they accurate and valid assumptions?
  10. When Father Branner suggested Marnie and Raver get married, she was quite skeptical. What do you think was going through her mind at that point? What would be a barrier in her decision to marry Raver?
  11. Discuss some of the unpleasant characters in the story, and the effect they had on the plot and story line.

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