11th Grade American Literature Students:

The following is our list of independent reading books for the 1st semester.

For each of the following books, I have provided you with a series of questions to assist you in composing your responses. You are NOT required to answer one of these questions; however, please ensure that your blog post contains the following:

1. Clear topic sentence
2. Title and author of the work
3. Specific examples of 1 literary technique used by the author.
4. Details/analysis to support discussion of literary technique.
5. 1 quotation from the book, cited MLA style.
6. Summary sentence
7. 6-8 sentences minimum length

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt

1. Describe the different definitions for the word “midnight” in this novel.

2. Characterize Lady Chablis. What is her role in this murder mystery?

3. How does the setting generate such an eccentric group of characters?

4. This novel is usually classified as non-fiction or mystery. Can you think of a more appropriate genre?

5. What is Berendt’s tone (remember the definition for tone)?

6. In what ways can this novel be classified as “gothic”?


Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

1. Discuss one scene in which Holden lies and/or stretches the truth? What does this say about him as a narrator?

2. How does Holden form friendships in the novel? What issues does he have with different forms of intimacy?

3. What is the tone of this novel (remember the definition of tone)? Can you find Salinger’s voice deep within Holden’s?

4. How does Holden view children and adults? Which category do you think he belongs and why?

5. What is significant about the scene in which Holden visits Mr. Spencer, his history teacher, after he’s been thrown out of school?

6. Holden likes to point out the phoniness in the world around him. How is this ironic?


1984 by George Orwell

1. Discuss one theme of this novel. How does the author present this theme to us?

2. Characterize Julia. How is she different from/similar to Winston?

3. Describe "doublespeak". How does The Party use this concept to control its citizens?

4. Explore the meaning of this quotation from the book, "War is peace.
Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength."

5. How does the following quotation explain the way in which the Party controls its citizens: "And perhaps you might pretend, afterwards, that it was only a trick and that you just said it to make them stop and didn't really mean it. But that isn't true. At the time when it happens you do mean it. You think there's no other way of saving yourself and you're quite ready to save yourself that way. You want it to happen to the other person. You don't give a damn what they suffer. All you care about is yourself." How is this statement ironic?


The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

1. How does the setting (New York City) create both positive and negative energy for Esther?

2. Esther’s mother concludes “I knew you’d decide to be all right” after Esther refuses to go back to electric shock therapy. What is Plath’s opinion of this statement?

3. Explain the symbol of the bell jar.

4. How is Esther’s madness related to the various messages of domesticity she receives as she comes of age?

5. Research Sylvia Plath’s life. Discuss why Plath might have published her only full-length novel only a month before she killed herself.

6. Describe Esther's different relationships with men. What patterns do you find? What is the underlying tension in each of these relationships?


The Color Purple by Alice Walker


1. Over the course of the novel, Celie learns to write more fluently. Describe specific examples of how her writing changes over time? How does this characterize Celie?

2. Discuss Celie's relationship to Shug. What role does Shug play in the novel?

3. What is the significance of the color purple in this novel?

4. When Celie returns to Georgia, how does she find Mr. ______? What does this show us about his psychological development as a character?

5. Describe the relationship between Celie and Nettie. In what ways do these young women teach each other to grow?

The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

1. Characterize Hester Prynne and Reverend Dimmesdale. How are they similar/different?


2. Hester’s “A” symbolizes adultery. What affect does this symbol have on Hester’s identity?

3. In what ways does the setting of this novel influence the central conflict?


4. Can you identify the tone of this novel? (Remember the correct definition of tone)?

5. What emotional baggage causes Dimmesdale to suffer physically? How can he make himself better, and why doesn’t he do anything to help himself?


6. What affect does Hester’s situation have on Pearl?

7. Is there any resolution in the novel for any of the characters?


Go Ask Alice by Anonymous

1. Describe the relationship between Alice's writing and her abuse of drugs.

2. Discuss the way in which the maggots and worms from Alice's dreams are symbolic? What do they represent?

3. Discuss the irony of the epilogue. Why do you think Alice's story ended the way it did? Be specific.

4. Discuss a specific line (or series of lines) from the text that exhibit Alice's inability to communicate well with others. How do these lines characterize Alice? Is this a fair assessment of her character?

5. Because it is written in epistolary form, this book is more like a conversation between ALice and her thoughts. Discuss the benefits of this particular narrative form, 1st person epistolary. Are there any drawbacks for the reader?


Black Water by Joyce Carol Oates

1. What does it mean for Kelly to be "the one he had chosen" at the party? How does she think this liason will enchance her life?

2. What is the narrative sequence in this novel? What affect does the narration have on the reader? What affect is it supposed to have?

3. Discuss Oates' use of imagery and foreshadowing in the first few chapters.

4. How is the title of this novel symbolic?

5. What techniques does Oates use to keep her readers in suspense, even though we know how the novel will end?


To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

1. What type of a parent is Atticus Finch? In your assessment, describe specific evidence of his parenting style from the novel.

2. Discuss character development for Scout. How does she change over the course of the novel? How does she stay the same?

3. How does the relationship of the children (Jem and Scout) with Boo Radley expose their childish understanding of the world?

4. How is Boo Radley symbolic in this novel?

5. Describe the setting of this novel. In what way does the setting of this small town detail social inequalities that exist in the society of that time?



A Separate Peace by John Knowles

1. Characterize Gene. To what extent is he a reliable narrator? What evidence do you have to support your opinion?

2. What significance does World War II have in this novel?

3. How are Gene and Finny different characters? Explain their friendship.

4. How does the story being set at a small, private boarding school influence the plot? Can you imagine what this story might have been if it had been set in an urban area?

5. How does Gene come of age in this novel? What realization does he have that allows him to see the world as an adult?


The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver

1. Why does Kingsolver shift point of view in Chapters 2 and 4 from Taylor to Lou Ann?

2. Describe the ways in which Taylor, Estevan and Esperanza, and Turtle are illegitimate?
What is the message that Kingsolver is trying to portray about legitimacy?

3. What is the difference between religion and spirituality in the novel? (Reference either 1-800-the lord or Jesus is Lord Used Tires).


4. What role does setting play in Taylor’s circumstances and decisions?

5. This novel was written in the 1980’s. Based on the novel, can you surmise the plight of the Native Americans? Has anything changed in the last thirty years?


6. What statement does the novel make about family?