Signal Fires

Dani ShapiroFiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2022

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Download PDF

Summary

Background

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Parts 1-3

Parts 4-7

Parts 8-11

Character Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Tools

Beta

Discussion Questions

Symbols & Motifs

The Magic Tree

The magic tree (as deemed by Waldo) is an oak tree that signifies the passing of time, because it remains in place (in front of the Wilfs’ house) even as the years go by. It is deemed magical because of the wildflowers that grow at its base. Unbeknownst to many people in the Avalon neighborhood, the wildflowers were born from bouquets left to mourn the loss of Misty. This transformation of death into life is symbolic of Misty’s death teaching Sarah and Theo an important lesson about appreciating life. Moreover, the magic tree is a symbol of longevity and rebirth for Waldo. Waldo learns Misty’s story by sensing her energy in the tree. The tree is therefore a manifestation of Misty’s spirit. It carries different meanings for different people, but remains the same throughout time, grounded in one natural space. At the end of Signal Fires, it is revealed that the magic tree is eventually cut down. However, the novel’s malleable sense of time implies that the tree’s stories will live on.

Avalon

Avalon is both setting and symbol. It is a typical suburban town filled with typical suburban people. However, it is this relatability that makes Avalon a special place. It is a community that allows for privacy, highlighting how people can live close together but know nothing about one another. This is best illustrated by Alice, whose traumatic near-loss of Waldo in 2010 makes her see her neighborhood in a new light—as a setting in which many lives are being lived and need help. The tensions inherent to a suburban layout are emphasizes by Ben and Shenkman’s relationship. Ben came to Alice and Shenkman’s aid when Alice went into labor in her kitchen, and yet, years go by without them speaking to one another. The suburban idyll is one in which people’s lives are as neatly manicured as their lawns. However, the reality is that such idylls can’t exist. Therefore, the setting of Avalon symbolizes the façade of perfection: Families such as the Wilfs and the Shenkmans are amidst their own chaos.

Stars

The title Signal Fires is in part inspired by the idea of stars as symbolic messages. Waldo studies the stars through his Star Walk app, an important means for the reader to experience philosophies of metaphysics. Waldo’s passion teaches him how to find meaning in his own life. The scale of the night sky comforts him with his own insignificance. Through Waldo, both Ben and Mimi also find comfort in the stars. Ben is deeply moved by the constellations because they remind him that he, like all humans, are essentially alone in the universe and must rely on other humans; Mimi finds peace in the moments before her death due to the sublimity of the stars. Furthermore, stars represent rebirth. When stars die, their matter turns into other celestial objects; they reincarnate into other stars. This becomes a symbolic parallel for human death. Though a person will inevitably die, they will live on through memories, lessons passed onto others, and their lasting spirit.