Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. How does a person define who they are? What is identity?

Teaching Suggestion: The main characters in the novel face events and revelations that drive them to question their identities. Perhaps before approaching the texts here, students can free write or brainstorm about different aspects of identity as a class. The article and speech can provide ways to continue reflecting on and discussing this large and important topic. Then, after studying the paired resources here, students could return to the question to write or discuss again, adding new insights from the texts offered. These questions could expand to additional activities. For instance, students could create identity charts as described here by Facing History.

• This Psychology Today article explores different aspects of our lives that build our identities.
• This 7-minute TEDx video presents Olivia Vinckier’s perspectives on identity and the importance of recognizing that who we are does not fit inside a box.

2. How do beliefs shape realities? How do discoveries shift realities?