GOD OF MERCY: A NOVEL Discussion Questions 1. When Ijeoma comes to the defense of Jekwu, despite the long standing tradition that would see Jekwu, with his mouthful of teeth, excommunicated from the village as a baby, she does so in open defiance of her community. How do you explain her decision as the protagonist of the book? 2. Discuss the differences between traditional Igbo spiritual practices and those of Christianity. Is there a tension between these traditions as they appear in the book? How do the characters in the book come into conflict with these traditions? And what, if any, resolution does the novel present in response to this conflict? 3. Ọfọdile exhibits a hubris throughout the novel, his tragic flaw. How does his insistence upon being respected by the people of Ichulu impact the outcome of the novel? 4. In the novel, Ijeoma is endowed with the ability to fly and there are other elements that might be considered magical, like the presence of gods in the village of Ichulu. How much of what appears to be magic is actually proven to be true? Does this suggest anything about the nature of faith and superstition? 5. A major theme of the novel, as suggested by the title, is the liberation of merciful love. How does this theme appear in the text?
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