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. The “ideal” structure of the American family continually transformed throughout the 20th century. In particular, the typical nuclear family of the 1950s was no longer the lived reality of many families in the mid-20th century. What was the quintessential nuclear family of the 1950s? What are some examples in the media of this type of family? How did this family unit transform over time?

Teaching Suggestion: This question links with the sociohistorical context of What Constitutes a Family in the mid-20th century. Students may consider how the “ideal” American family transformed over time. At the novel’s beginning, Janie’s life somewhat fits into this mold; however, as her reality shifts, she grapples with the understanding of what a family means for her. Additionally, by Janie’s era, the concept of the nuclear family was a myth, as divorce rates increased and “non-traditional” families became more common. If students are not familiar with the content matter, this prompt may also work as a mini-research assignment. In addition to the links below, this question relates to the Paired Resource for Chapters 10-12 and serves as a segue to the Personal Connection Prompt.