In a 1957 interview with the Paris Review, Capote stated, “I believe a story can be wrecked by a faulty rhythm in a sentence (especially if it occurs toward the end) or a mistake in paragraphing, even punctuation” (38). Choose one instance of rhythm, paragraphing, or punctuation in “A Christmas Memory” and analyze its rhetorical significance.

Many readers and critics have described “A Christmas Memory” as a nostalgic portrayal of the rural South. Do you agree or disagree with this assessment? In what ways is “A Christmas Memory” a nostalgic story? In what ways does it challenge nostalgic depictions of Southern life?

Is “A Christmas Memory” a coming-of-age story? Offer specific evidence from the text to argue for whether Buddy “comes of age” by the end of the story.