86 pages • 2 hours read
Esther HautzigThe Endless Steppe
Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | YA | Published in 1968A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Essay Questions
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. Throughout her experiences of exile, antisemitism, and loss, Esther allows her Jewish heritage, community, and rituals to help comfort and sustain her.
- How important was her Jewish heritage to Esther? (topic sentence)
- Provide several examples of how Esther's father, mother, grandmother, and perhaps other family members influenced the way Esther thought about what it meant to be a part of the Jewish community.
- In your concluding sentences, briefly summarize how Esther’s Jewish heritage connects to the theme of Adaptability and Resistance to Change.
2. The isolation Esther feels is one of the greatest challenges of her exile.
- How can language and cultural barriers influence the need for acceptance and friendship? (topic sentence)
- Describe some of the things Esther did to fit in at school and make friends.
