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. Many of the phrases that the students have to memorize are paradoxes.

• What is Mr. Curtain’s purpose for making the students memorize paradoxical statements? (topic sentence)
• Explain what a paradox is and show how at least three statements that the students have to memorize are paradoxical.
• Give at least two pieces of evidence that support your interpretation of Mr. Curtain’s motivation.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, show how this element of the story supports a larger meaning the story is trying to convey.

2. The setting of the Waiting Room has a powerful effect on Sticky.

• What about this particular setting causes a crisis for Sticky? (topic sentence)
• Describe this setting, supporting your description with at least one piece of quoted and cited evidence.
• Explain the impact this setting has on Sticky, supporting your explanation with at least one piece of quoted and cited evidence.
• Give at least two pieces of evidence that support your interpretation of why this setting impacts Sticky the way it does.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, show how this part of the text supports the text’s larger thematic concern with Fear and Finding the Bravery Within.

3. While he is on his adventure, Reynie composes several mental letters to Miss Perumal.

• What does Miss Perumal represent to Reynie, and why does he want to stay connected to her through his imagined letters? (topic sentence)
• Give at least three pieces of evidence that support your interpretation.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, show how Reynie’s relationship with Miss Perumal supports the text’s thematic concern with Found Family.

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. How do the children’s different strategies for solving the test tasks in the beginning of the story reveal their individual strengths? What individual weaknesses do their approaches to the tests reveal? How do these differing strengths and weaknesses play a role later in the story? Write an essay in which you demonstrate that the children’s varying approaches to the test tasks foreshadow later events in the story. Connect your analysis to the story’s thematic concern with The Abilities of Children and The Power of Cooperation. Support your arguments with evidence drawn from throughout the text. Be sure to cite any quoted evidence.

2. On the first test that he takes, Reynie is asked the question, “Are you brave”? What does he answer, and why? How do you imagine Kate, Constance, and Sticky each answered this question? Do you think they all have the same definition of what it means to be brave? When do the characters in this book show genuine bravery? Write an essay in which you analyze the text’s definition of bravery. Show how this definition supports the text’s thematic concern with Finding the Bravery Within. Support your arguments with evidence drawn from throughout the text. Be sure to cite any quoted evidence.

3. What is the symbolic significance of Mr. Benedict and Mr. Curtain being twins? In what ways are they similar? In what ways are they opposites? What might have caused the important differences between the two men? What does the “evil twin” motif in literature say about the good and bad in all people? How does the scene where Mr. Benedict impersonates Mr. Curtain help support this idea? Do other characters in this story support the idea that most people are capable of both good and bad behavior? What seems to make a difference in whether these people choose to be good or bad? Write an essay in which you explore the meaning of Mr. Curtain being Mr. Benedict’s twin. Support your arguments with evidence drawn from throughout the text. Be sure to cite any quoted evidence.