Sleepwalk by Dan Chaon: 15 Evidence-Grounded Questions and Answers
Introduction
This study guide offers fifteen evidence-grounded questions and answers about Dan Chaon's Sleepwalk, a novel that follows a man who has erased his own identity—or tried to—through a lifetime of aliases, burner phones, and off-grid habits. The questions below trace the narrator's decisions, his shifting relationships with the people who claim to be his daughters, and the novel's recurring symbols of surveillance, genetic inheritance, and the impossibility of true anonymity. Each answer is grounded in the chapter outline and the book's text, with page references to the relevant chapters in prose.
1. Why does the narrator throw away burner phones when a young woman calls him by his aliases?
Direct answer: The narrator discards the phones because each call proves that his carefully maintained anonymity has been breached. He treats each phone as a disposable identity, and tossing it is his reflexive way of cutting off any trace that could lead back to him. The calls escalate until all eight phones ring at once, forcing him to confront the fact that his system has failed.
Evidence and interpretation: In "Three Times," the narrator is driving through Utah with Liandro when the first burner phone rings and a young female voice asks for Will Bear. He throws it out the window. The second call addresses him as Mr. Baird, and he discards that phone too. The third time, sleet and snow force him to pull over, and all eight phones buzz simultaneously. This scene establishes the novel's central tension: the narrator's identity is a collection of disposable aliases, but someone has learned them all. The storm acts as a portent, and the simultaneous ringing signals that his concealment is no longer sustainable. The chapter's title, "Three Times," suggests a pattern of escalation that will drive the plot forward.
2. What does the opening list of aliases in "The Barely Blur" reveal about the narrator's identity?
Direct answer: The list of near-identical names—Will Bear, William Baird, Bill Behr, and so on—shows that the narrator's identity is not a single self but a blur of interchangeable designations. Each name is a slight permutation of the same root, suggesting that his sense of self is deliberately fragmented and that he has no fixed, authentic identity to return to.
Evidence and interpretation: Chapter 2 presents the list as the chapter's entire content, with no narrative action. The names blur together, and the final Cyrillic rendering underscores the global reach of his aliases. This opening establishes the theme of identity multiplicity and erasure, which is explored throughout the novel. The narrator later refers to himself as "the Barely Blur," a name that captures his condition: he is barely visible, barely a person, existing only as a series of masks. The list also foreshadows the novel's concern with genetic identity—the idea that a person can be reduced to a set of biological markers that are reproduced and commodified.
3. How does the narrator rationalize transporting an infant in "Friend to Babies"?
Direct answer: The narrator convinces himself that he is facilitating an "under-the-table adoption" rather than trafficking a baby. He dismisses darker possibilities as "media hysteria" and focuses on the practical details of keeping the infant alive, such as improvising a feeding method with coffee creamer and an eyedropper. This self-deception allows him to continue his work without confronting its moral weight.
Evidence and interpretation: In "Kickin Chickin," the narrator receives a tiny Caucasian infant from a Ukrainian woman who does not know the baby's age or sex. In "Friend to Babies," he places the baby on the floor of the truck cab and plans to feed it diluted creamer. He imagines the infant eventually sold to a wealthy couple, and he tells himself that the arrangement is benign. The dog Flip gives the baby a "rueful stare," and the narrator tells him not to look that way, suggesting that Flip serves as a silent moral conscience. The burning wind turbines the narrator passes—despite the sleet—hint at a world in which natural order is breaking down, mirroring the narrator's own moral confusion.
4. What is the significance of the tarot spread in "Shitty Times Ahead for Some"?
Direct answer: The three-card spread—Eight of Cups, Six of Pentacles reversed, and The Hanged Man—foreshadows the narrator's journey of abandonment, imbalance, and sacrifice. The cards reflect his emotional state and the choices he will face, particularly his growing attachment to Cammie and his eventual decision to defy his employers.
Evidence and interpretation: At the Red Hot Truck Stop, the narrator recalls a psychic named Mrs. Wetz who taught him Tarot. He shuffles his Rider-Waite deck and lays out the spread. The Eight of Cups often signifies walking away from something, the reversed Six of Pentacles suggests unequal giving and receiving, and The Hanged Man represents suspension and a change in perspective. These cards align with the narrator's situation: he is about to be pulled into a relationship with a woman who claims to be his daughter, and he will have to sacrifice his old life. The chapter's title, "Shitty Times Ahead for Some," is a wry acknowledgment that the narrator's own future is uncertain, and the tarot reading is a moment of self-reflection that he immediately undercuts by answering a phone call from the young woman.
5. Why does Cammie's laugh unnerve the narrator in "Sperm of Choice"?
Direct answer: Cammie's laugh matches the narrator's mother's laugh, and that resemblance triggers a deep, visceral unease. It connects his potential daughter to the woman he killed, blurring the line between love and danger. The laugh becomes a physical reminder of his traumatic past and the possibility that Cammie may be as manipulative as his mother was.
Evidence and interpretation: In "Sperm of Choice," the narrator records a call with Cammie, who identifies herself as Camilla Randolph Willacy. When he jokes about child support, she laughs, and the narrator notes that the laugh unnerves him because it matches his mother's. This moment is a turning point in their relationship: he begins to see Cammie not just as a stranger but as a genetic echo of the woman who abused and abandoned him. The laugh recurs in later chapters, such as "Oubliette," where Cammie laughs again and the narrator is reminded of his mother. This connection suggests that the narrator's fear of Cammie is partly a fear of repeating his past—of being drawn into a relationship with someone who will betray him.
6. How does the encounter with the dead man and the militia members change the narrator in "RIP in Peace"?
Direct answer: The narrator kills two men in self-defense and immediately regrets it, marking a shift from his usual detached professionalism to a moment of moral crisis. The violence forces him to confront the consequences of his actions and the possibility that he is not as ruthless as he believes. It also deepens his connection to Cammie, who has been tracking him and may have led him into this situation.
Evidence and interpretation: In "RIP in Peace," the narrator arrives at a campground in Kentucky and discovers a dead man tied to a tree with a sign reading "PEDOPHILE." Two young men in police-style uniforms confront him and admit to the killing. The narrator shoots both, killing them, and immediately regrets it. This is a rare moment of impulsive violence; earlier, he has been careful and calculating. The regret suggests that he is losing his emotional distance, perhaps because of his growing involvement with Cammie. The chapter's title, "RIP in Peace," is ironic—the narrator's own peace is shattered, and he is now a fugitive from a different kind of justice.
7. What does the "Family Curse" reveal about the narrator's past and his connection to Cammie?
Direct answer: The "Family Curse" is the narrator's term for the mental illness that runs in his family, and it becomes a point of identification with Cammie. He admits to her that he once struggled with sanity issues, and she responds that she has read the DSM since childhood. This shared vulnerability creates a bond between them, even as it raises questions about whether Cammie's claims are delusional.
Evidence and interpretation: In "The Family Curse," the narrator and Cammie talk about insomnia and mental illness. He calls it "the Family Curse," and she says she doesn't believe in psychiatry. The conversation is their longest yet, nearly twenty minutes, and it ends with Cammie asking if contacting him seems stupid; he calls it desperate. This exchange humanizes both characters and suggests that their connection is based on mutual recognition of brokenness. The chapter also includes a scene where the narrator takes a wrong turn and encounters a shirtless elderly man with a chainsaw, a moment of surreal danger that underscores the precariousness of his journey. The "Family Curse" becomes a lens through which the narrator understands both his own history and his potential daughter's behavior.
8. How does the revelation of 167 biological children complicate the plot in "Power Outage"?
Direct answer: The revelation that the narrator has at least 167 biological children transforms his personal quest into a conspiracy thriller. It suggests that his sperm donations were part of a larger scheme to create a genetically engineered population, and it raises the stakes for Cammie's safety. The number also makes the narrator's search for a single daughter seem almost absurd, as he is now connected to a vast, hidden family.
Evidence and interpretation: In "Good Discussions," Cammie reveals that there are 167 of them, probably more. In "Power Outage," she elaborates that a cabal of powerful people is collecting these children, and that her adoptive father is Brayden Kurch's lawyer. The narrator is skeptical, suggesting she may be suffering paranoid delusions, but the power outage that cuts off their call—and causes his camper to lose power and scrape along a bridge wall—adds a physical dimension to the threat. The chapter's title, "Power Outage," is both literal and metaphorical: the narrator's understanding of his own life is suddenly darkened, and he is forced to consider that his anonymity was never real. The revelation also connects to the theme of genetic inheritance and the commodification of reproduction, as the narrator's sperm has been used to create a cohort of children without his knowledge or consent.
9. What is the role of the dog Flip as a moral compass in the novel?
Direct answer: Flip serves as the narrator's silent conscience, reacting to situations with a kind of animal wisdom that the narrator often ignores. Flip's stares, his protective behavior, and his eventual injury all highlight the narrator's moral compromises. Flip is also a symbol of loyalty and unconditional love, contrasting with the betrayals that surround the narrator.
Evidence and interpretation: In "Friend to Babies," Flip gives the baby a "rueful stare," and the narrator tells him not to look that way. In "RIP in Peace," Flip's barking alerts the narrator to the dead man, leading to the violent confrontation. In "Protagonist," Flip attacks Experanza and is wounded, ultimately saving the narrator's life. In "A Riddle, O Traveler," the narrator learns that Flip carries a GPS tracking chip, which means the dog has been used to track him—a betrayal that forces the narrator to leave Flip behind. Flip's presence throughout the novel provides a counterpoint to the narrator's self-deception; the dog's simple, direct reactions often reveal the truth that the narrator is trying to avoid. The final chapter, "I Wake Up," includes a dream in which Flip escapes to find the narrator, suggesting that the bond between them endures even after separation.
10. Why does the narrator decide not to kill Cammie despite orders from Tim Ribbons?
Direct answer: The narrator decides not to kill Cammie because he has come to believe she is his daughter and because he feels a genuine emotional connection to her. He questions why Ribbons would send him on such a mission, suspecting it is a test of loyalty, but ultimately he cannot bring himself to harm someone who shares his panic and his laugh. This decision marks a turning point in his character, as he chooses family over obedience.
Evidence and interpretation: In "Sleepwalking Through the Valley of Good and Evil," the narrator reflects on his assignment to kill Cammie and admits, "But maybe I won't." He notes that her voice caught him, and he recognizes in her the same panic and the same laugh. In "You Had a Choice," he tells Cammie directly that he won't kill her. This decision is a departure from his usual role as a hired killer, and it sets him on a path of rebellion against his employers. The chapter title "You Had a Choice" refers to the narrator's own agency, and his choice to protect Cammie—even at the risk of his own life—is a central act of the novel.
11. What does the "Honeypot" chapter reveal about trust and manipulation?
Direct answer: "Honeypot" shows how the narrator's relationships are built on manipulation and suspicion. Experanza accuses him of being in love with the girl he is supposed to kill, and he himself wonders if Cammie is setting a trap. The chapter's title refers to a decoy, and it highlights the difficulty of distinguishing genuine connection from calculated deception.
Evidence and interpretation: In "Honeypot," the narrator calls Experanza from a cemetery and reports that the address he was given was a stripped storage facility. Experanza warns him that his identities are compromised and that he is being manipulated. The narrator recalls his childhood with Experanza, including a baby rabbit that ended tragically, and he reflects on whether his meeting with Patches—the man who delivered Cammie—was coincidence or design. The chapter also includes a memory of being recruited by Tim Ribbons at a disco club, suggesting that his entire career has been built on manipulation. The narrator's awareness of these patterns does not protect him; he agrees to go on an errand for Cammie, knowing it may be a trap. This chapter deepens the novel's exploration of trust and deception, showing that even the narrator's closest relationships are fraught with uncertainty.
12. How does Patches's revelation about Ward and the Neanderthal DNA affect the narrator's understanding of his origins?
Direct answer: Patches tells the narrator that his sperm sold for high six figures because he carries unusual Neanderthal-associated DNA, and that he may not be an only child. This revelation suggests that the narrator is not just a random donor but a key figure in a eugenic scheme. It also raises questions about his own parentage, as Patches hints that Ward, a chimpanzee, may be his kin.
Evidence and interpretation: In "Low Country Tidings," the narrator visits Patches's estate on Kiawah Island, where he meets Ward, a chimpanzee who communicates through sign language. Patches, while intoxicated, reveals that the narrator's sperm was part of Brayden Kurch's scheme and that he carries Neanderthal DNA. He also claims that Ward is the narrator's progeny or kin, a shocking suggestion that blurs the line between human and animal. The narrator is drugged, likely through wasabi peas, and overhears Patches predicting he will be dead within a week. This chapter deepens the novel's themes of genetic engineering and the commodification of life, and it forces the narrator to question his own identity and origins. The revelation also connects to the earlier mention of the Temple of the True Science cult, which ran a eugenic breeding program.