What is the primary internal conflict that Ken faces in the novel? Discuss this conflict’s development throughout the text. How does its resolution—or lack thereof—develop Ken’s character?

Discuss the conflict between Ken and his father. How are they alike or different? How does the novel explore father-son relationships more generally?

Discuss three specific moments where the point of view shifts away from Ken. What insight does this shift in point of view provide about a character or theme? Explain.

How does O’Hara use foreshadowing in the novel to build suspense and tension? What other literary techniques and devices does she use?

Analyze the role of the mountain lion in the text. What does the mountain lion symbolize? What is its wider significance in the text?

How does the novel use nature, such as animals, the weather, and the terrain, to reflect human emotions and relationships? Discuss and analyze three specific scenes in your response.

How does the text examine the nature of perseverance? How does Ken’s growth and development throughout the text convey this theme?

Compare and contrast My Friend Flicka with one of the other novels in the trilogy, Thunderhead (1943) or Green Grass of Wyoming (1946). What key themes and ideas are present across the trilogy? How are the books different or similar from one another?