42 pages 1 hour read

Danzy Senna

Caucasia

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1998

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Essay Topics

1.

Senna tells the novel from Birdie’s first-person point of view. How would the narrative change if it was from the third person or another character’s point of view?

2.

One of the novel’s themes is real versus imagined danger. In addition to revealing her false identity, Birdie is afraid of revealing herself to be mixed-race. Is this danger real or imagined? What might have happened to Birdie in New Hampshire if she let others know that she was half-white and half-black?

3.

The catalyst for Birdie’s identity crisis is her family’s decision to split up. In your opinion, was this the right decision? What might have happened if the family had decided to run away together or stay in Boston? Provide evidence from the text for your response.