42 pages • 1-hour read
The Water Is Wide: A Memoir
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Essay Topics
Racism takes many forms throughout the book. Contrast the different forms and the way Pat responds to them.
Why is the murder of Martin Luther King, Jr., an important moment in Pat’s development?
How does Mrs. Brown’s internalized racism manifest in her interactions with the islanders and her relationships with Pat and the county administration?
Why is the class’s knowledge of classical music symbolically significant?
In what ways is Pat’s approach to education different from Mrs. Brown’s?
How does Pat’s white guilt about his own racist youth drive many of his actions and decisions?
Pat believes that the children need to gain wider life experiences. Why does he believe this and how successful is he in giving them these opportunities?
How does the author use flags to symbolically explore politics and racism?
How does racism intersect with the themes of ignorance and education in the neglect of the Yamacraw children?
The author is critical of the “concerned white folk” who established the island’s library. Is he being hypocritical in this critique? Defend your answer with evidence from the book.
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