Donna Tartt's fictional novel The Goldfinch follows the tragic story of a young boy, Theo Decker who loses his mother. Take your reading experience to the next level by analyzing every detail, from the author's writing style to the individual characters. Why did Donna Tartt choose first-person point of view, and how do the boy's memories help convey the story's messages? Travel from New York to Las Vegas as you follow Theo's story and end up in Amsterdam.Read this analysis alongside the The Goldfinch to get chapter-by-chapter overviews that clarify any confusing encounters. The story is divided into five acts with sub-chapters that follow Theo's life in the aftermath of his mother's unexpected death. See firsthand how he copes with the tragic event while receiving expert opinions on what is really going on under the surface of each character. Dig deeper into the meaning of the story by discovering recurring images like water and birds. The dynamic cast of characters impact Theo's life in diverse ways as he struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder and seeks his inner artist. Discussion questions and responses help you look further than the superficial text to prolong your enjoyment of The Goldfinch.