Concrete Rose

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. 

Scaffolded/Short-Answer Essay Questions

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

1. What roles do the women in Concrete Rose take on in the novel?

• Do the book’s female characters experience more struggle or exhibit more wisdom than the men in the book? (topic sentence)
• How do the women in Maverick’s life respond when he shows determination to “man up”?
• What situations and interactions do the women in Concrete Rose experience?
• How does toxic masculinity inform the experiences of the women in the novel?

2. What is the significance behind the names of the characters in Concrete Rose?

• How do names inform the relationships between parents and their children in the novel? (topic sentence)
• What are the hopes encompassed by the parents in the novel when they name their children?
• How do these children fulfill or fail to live up to their names?

3. What role does cash play in the novel for Maverick?

• How does cash frame Maverick’s sense of power or agency throughout the story? (topic sentence)
• Why does cash become a motivating factor for so many characters?
• In what ways do the characters find a balance between the significance of cash and their lives?

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. Maverick describes how he feels he must become a man in the face of his responsibilities as a father. Outline how Maverick attempts to provide for his family and become a man throughout the novel. What beliefs does Maverick have about masculinity? What wisdom does he receive from others about masculinity, and how does it change his conception? Include at least three quotations in your essay to support your response.

2. Maverick and King are the sons of two influential gang members, who were once themselves best friends. Compare how King’s life and Maverick’s life change in the wake of the revelation that King Jr. is actually Maverick’s son. How do their experiences begin to differ? What is King’s response to fatherhood once Iesha becomes pregnant again in the novel with his child? How is his reaction different from or similar to Maverick’s? Discuss their roles in the King Lords and their family ties. Cite the text in your response.

3. What instances of racism are highlighted in Concrete Rose? Are these interactions explicit or implicit, and how can you tell? How do these experiences affect Maverick? What does Maverick have to say about them? Provide at least three examples of the text and explain how they tie into the text’s theme of The Devastating Effects of Race and Racism overall.