How might the story have been different had it been told from a different point of view, such as third-person omniscient, in which the narrator has insight into the thoughts and feelings of all the characters? How would it have been different if it were told from Giles Hadlow’s point of view, or Avril Win’s?

Is the novel one of sharp contrasts? If so, who is contrasted with whom, in terms of character, race, social class, or sexual orientation, and to what effect?

Which characters grow and change most during the course of the novel? In what ways do they change?