“So Much Water So Close to Home” appears in Raymond Carver’s collection of short stories titled What We Talk About When We Talk About Love. Examine the significance of this title and explain the context it creates for this short story. What does this story seem to “talk about” regarding love?

Raymond Carver spoke frequently of his preference for writing short stories. Consider the characteristics of long fiction versus those of short fiction. What makes the latter an effective choice for Claire’s story?

The theme of Gender Norms’ Harmful Effects on Women fuels the conflict in numerous ways. Examine the role minor characters—both male and female—play in developing this theme. How does their presence contribute to or illustrate constructs of masculinity and femininity?