Sprout longs to have a greater purpose in life, like the sprouts on the acacia tree. Using textual evidence, examine whether she fulfills this desire.

Explore how Sprout is an inspiring symbol of self-determination and nonconformity, using textual evidence to support an argument.

Use textual evidence to examine how the animals’ perspectives on the farmers characterize these individuals as exploitative and selfish.

Inclusion and exclusion is central to the barn animals’ lives: They exclude any animal who doesn’t conform to their traditional roles and attitudes. Given that the novella is allegorical, their exclusionist, gatekeeping behavior represents human tendencies. Examine how this parallels real-life examples of these tendencies.

Using textual evidence, explore how the manner of Straggler and Sprout’s deaths exemplifies The Self-Sacrificial Nature of Parenting as a theme.

Does Sprout’s existential view of life and her role ultimately lead her toward greater happiness and fulfillment, or do the contented egg-layers who remained in the coop achieved a greater level of overall satisfaction? Use textual evidence to build an argument.

In what ways does Hwang present being an outsider as beneficial, and in what ways does she present it as painful and difficult? Overall, does the book celebrate or condemn outsiders? Build an argument using textual evidence.

Does Hwang present a positive or negative depiction of parenthood? Use textual evidence to build an argument.