Discuss the allegorical relationship between Z for Zachariah and the biblical story of the Garden of Eden. In what ways is Burden Valley like the biblical garden? How does the novel subvert or challenge the gender roles found in the biblical story?

What does the novel suggest about the relationship between technology and power? If Loomis represents the danger of technology as a means of domination, does the novel offer a more hopeful way of thinking about the role of technology in human lives?

What role does religion play for Ann in the novel? How does Ann’s relationship to religion reflect the realities of a post-apocalyptic world? What emotional, psychological, and practical needs does religion fulfill for her?