The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry

Analyze the concept of faith as the author presents it in the text. Faith is never tied to any specific religion in the book, so what undergirds certain characters’ faith, giving them hope and convictions?

Mental health is discussed in many forms in the novel with references made to depression, Alzheimer's disease, and addiction. How does the author draw tension between this subject and the idea of being a good, mannerly Englishman? How does the lack of an open dialogue about mental health issues affect the characters’ lives?

When the novel opens, Maureen and Harold are having breakfast. Food becomes an important motif in the novel. Trace the arc of Harold’s various ways of procuring sustenance while on the journey. What is the significance of the changes in his process?

How is Queenie a foil to Maureen? Why was Harold so drawn to her? Did he betray Maureen by befriending Queenie, yet remaining disconnected emotionally from his wife?

What is the purpose of having the pilgrims join Harold? Did their presence help or harm him? What does he learn from Wilf, Rich, and Kate?

How does the novel address the concept of self-reflection? How does this become important for Harold and Maureen on their separate journeys as well as on their shared path of grief and reconciliation within their marriage?

How do geography and the landscape of the English countryside play a significant role in Harold’s journey and the purposes of the novel? What is the significance of specific places where Harold stops such as Buckfast Abbey, Exeter, and Bath?

Trace the significance of letters as a motif in the novel. What do Harold’s letters and postcards symbolize? Why does he feel the need to include the garage attendant girl in his correspondence?