Johnny Tremain

Use these essay questions as writing and critical thinking exercises for all levels of writers, and to build their literary analysis skills by requiring textual references throughout the essay.

Differentiation Suggestion: For English learners or struggling writers, strategies that work well include graphic organizers, sentence frames or starters, group work, or oral responses.

Scaffolded Essay Questions

Student Prompt: Write a short (1-3 paragraph) response using one of the below bulleted outlines. Cite details from the text over the course of your response that serve as examples and support.

1. Consider the importance of Rab and Johnny’s friendship to the theme of Self-Sacrifice.

• Who is Rab, and what does he teach Johnny about self-sacrifice? (topic sentence)
• Offer evidence from the story that shows how Rab helps Johnny and how Johnny changes because of their friendship.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, draw a connection between Johnny’s friendship with Rab and the novel’s overarching theme of Self-Sacrifice for the Greater Good.

2. Consider the significance of the Lyte cup in Johnny’s character development.

• What does the Lyte cup symbolize, and what does it reveal about Johnny’s development? (topic sentence)
• Offer evidence from the story that shows how Johnny’s view of the Lyte cup changes over the course of the novel.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, explain how Johnny’s decision not to reclaim the cup shows his growth.

Full Essay Assignments

Student Prompt: Write a structured and well-developed essay. Include a thesis statement, at least three main points supported by text details, and a conclusion.

1. Consider the theme of Surviving in a Changing World. Select two supporting characters from the novel, one who successfully adapts to the changes in their life and one who fails to adapt, and examine what sets their experiences apart. What changes does each character face? How do they each attempt to cope with these challenges? Ultimately, why does one character succeed while the other does not? Make and defend a clear claim about the connection between the characters’ arcs and the theme of Surviving in a Changing World. Support your ideas with evidence from the text. Remember to cite quoted evidence.

2. Consider the importance of printing in Johnny Tremain. How does the motif’s significance develop throughout the story? How does the motif of printing contribute to the novel’s characters, setting, and the theme of Self-Sacrifice for the Greater Good? Make and defend a clear claim about the motif of printing in Johnny Tremain. Support your ideas with evidence from throughout the text. Remember to cite quoted evidence.