Socks

Compare and contrast how the sitter and the mother-in-law treat Socks. How does each of these characters contribute to Socks’s overall character arc? Would Socks’s arc have been different without either of these characters? Why or why not?

Does Cleary’s portrayal of Socks match how cats are in real life? Why or why not? Regardless of whether it’s realistic, is Cleary’s cat perspective relatable? Use examples from the text to support your answer.

Analyze the illustrations in Socks. How do they enhance the written story? How would the narrative change without these visual elements? Cite specific examples in your response.

Choose three instances where Socks reacts to changes he doesn’t like, and analyze his behavior. In each situation, is Socks misbehaving, or is he just reacting naturally for a cat? Offer a possible alternative reaction to each situation to make your point.

What is the significance of Marilyn seeming to finally understand Socks at the end of Chapter 7? How does this moment conclude Socks’s character arc, as well as the external tension of the story? Additionally, what does it suggest about human-animal communication?

Compare and contrast Socks with one of Cleary’s works from the Ralph S. Mouse series, The Mouse and the Motorcycle or Runaway Ralph. What are the similarities and differences in the relationships between humans and animals in these two works?

Since Debbie and George are only seen in Chapter 1, are they necessary to the story? Would the story have lost anything if it began with Socks enjoying his life with the Brickers? Why do you think Cleary chose to include the first chapter? Support your answer with evidence from the text.

Why didn’t Socks and Charles William form a relationship earlier in the book? Are the barriers between them internal, external, or both?