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.

Scaffolded/Short-Answer Essay Questions

Student Prompt: Write a short (1-3 paragraph) response using one of the below bulleted outlines. Cite details from the novel over the course of your response that serve as examples and support.

1. Saul frequently employs literary terms such as personification throughout his first-person narrative.

• In which moments throughout the novel does Saul use the most personification? (topic sentence)
• Find 3 examples of his use of personification that support your topic sentence.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, discuss the general effect of his use of his figurative language.

2. In Chapter 34, Jack Lanahan remarks in his conversation with Saul that “It’s not a perfect country […] But it is a perfect game.”

• How can this line be interpreted, and how does it apply to Saul’s discovery of hockey? (topic sentence)
• Find and discuss 3 examples in which sport and racism collide within the text.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, discuss how Saul’s discovery of his passion for the sport juxtaposes against the oppressive education system in which he lives.

3. The dichotomy between Indigenous traditions and contemporary life is a continuous battle that Saul encounters throughout his years.