Gender
Gender is a key motif in this collection. Overall, we might read Debbie: An Epic, as a feminine retelling of the conventional epic, a genre that is generally dominated by male authors and male narratives.
The ships
In one poem, Robertson describes ships that are "named for women" sailing towards an island. She says that they "enter narrative as I have entered books." As such, the ships might be a symbol for the introduction of women into the epic narrative.
The library
One of Robertson's poems is set in a library, which is used to represent the canon of classical literature, and influential texts that are esteemed by the cultural imagination. She describes how Virgil walks through the "paternal library" with "suave domesticity," representing his respected place among writers.
Virgil
Virgil is mentioned frequently in the text and is significant as he is heavily associated with the epic genre. As such, Robertson uses Virgil in order to symbolize a departure from the masculine epic.
Debbie
Overall, Debbie is symbolic of the feminine and also symbolizes the entrance of the feminine voice into the epic genre. She is depicted as a strong character, who is often more of a representation than an individual.
