Son of a Trickster

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 bulleted outlines below. Cite details from the text over the course of your response that serve as examples and support.

1. Sarah and Jared share certain similarities that cause them to bond.

• Why are Sarah and Jared able to build a strong relationship? (topic sentence)
• Describe 3 ways in which Sarah and Jared are similar.
• In your concluding sentences, explain what they can offer one another because of their shared experiences.

2. Throughout the novel, various animals function as symbols.

• Why are animals important in the novel? (topic sentence)
• Describe 3 animals and what each animal represents symbolically.
• In your concluding sentences, explain how the symbolism of the animals affects your understanding of the scenes in which they appear.

3. The novel contains several italicized chapters that offer commentary in a different narrative voice.

• How are the italicized chapters different from the other chapters in the novel? (topic sentence)
• Provide 3 examples that show the italicized chapters’ influence on the reader’s perception of the story.
• In your concluding sentences, describe how the italicized chapters change the novel as a whole.

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. Jared frequently experiences violence—physical, verbal, and emotional—at the hands of those closest to him. How does this internalized violence complicate his understanding of love and affection? Compose a well-structured essay response that addresses this topic. For supporting ideas, you may want to consider these questions: How is Jared’s relationship with Sarah influenced by these interactions? How is Jared’s attitude toward himself influenced by his experiences? When is Jared afraid to show love and affection?

2. The motif of family roles and their meaning is prevalent in the novel. Compose an essay that addresses this topic. For supporting ideas, you may want to think about these ideas: How does the truth of Jared’s conception and the role of Wee’git in Maggie’s life complicate Maggie’s and Phil’s characters? In what ways does Wee’git’s character, and the story as a whole, complicate or subvert traditional family roles? How is Jared’s relationship with Sophia and his father impacted by the revelation of Jared’s parentage? How do Wee’git’s actions limit Jared’s options for leaving his abusive home life?

3. Until he finally reaches out to Nana Sophia and his mother, Jared is certain his visions, dreams, and bizarre conversations are simply drug-induced hallucinations. In what ways are mental health and drug use discussed in the novel, and how do they affect the plausibility of the story’s moments of magical realism? Does Jared’s alcoholism affect his reliability as a narrator? What effect, if any, does Jared’s vow to consume less alcohol have on his hallucinations? How are Sarah’s visions influenced by drugs? Support your response with details and examples from the novel.