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 play over the course of your response that serve as examples and support.

1. The story is structured around five encounters between Twyla and Roberta, starting when they are eight years old.

• How do Twyla and Roberta’s identities change over the course of the story? (topic sentence)
• Compare and contrast Twyla and Roberta at each stage of the story.
• Conclude your essay with an explanation of what Twyla and Roberta’s differences and similarities reveal about Morrison’s overall message.

2. “Recitatif” is told completely from Twyla’s point of view.

• How would the story be different if it were told from Roberta’s point of view? (topic sentence)
• What would Roberta’s “recitative” consist of?
• In your conclusion, discuss why Morrison chose Twyla’s point of view over Roberta’s to tell this story.

3. Initially, Maggie does not seem like an important character in the story, but she becomes the focus by the end.

• Why did Morrison choose to end the story with the question about Maggie? (topic sentence)
• How has the author constructed the entire story to lead to this ending?
• Conclude your essay by stating why Maggie is an important symbolic figure.