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.

Differentiation Suggestion: For English learners or struggling writers, strategies that work well include graphic organizers, sentence frames or starters, group work, or oral responses.

Scaffolded Essay Questions

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

1. During his journey home to Ithaca, Ulysses encounters many monsters.

• What idea about life is conveyed by the monsters Ulysses encounters? (topic sentence)
• Provide evidence from at least three separate stories in The Adventures of Ulysses that supports your interpretation.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, explain the relationship between the text’s monsters and the text’s concerns with The Wisdom of Determination.

2. Honor was a critical attribute for ancient Greek people.

• How does “The Land of the Dead” convey the importance of honor? (topic sentence)
• Provide at least three examples from this story that support your interpretation.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, show how the story supports the novel’s overall concern with The Hero’s Purpose in Greek Mythology and Today.