Why is there so much unknown about the murder of Emmett Till? How does Thompson seek to close this knowledge gap? How do the missing details reflect the text’s wider exploration of memory versus forgetting?

Thompson takes care to detail the impacts of the crime on Till’s family and friends. How does The Barn examine the nature of trauma and grief?

Thompson emphasizes the many connections among people and geographic places in the Delta. What is the wider significance of these geographical and familial connections in the text?