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. A text’s atmosphere is a feeling created through the details and language used to describe a setting.

• How does Shirley Jackson establish an atmosphere of terror when the Eleanor arrives at Hill House? (topic sentence)
• Give at least 3 examples of details, images, or phrases that support the terrifying effect of Hill House’s atmosphere. Explain how these details, images, or phrases accomplish this task.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, explain how the atmosphere supports the theme of Imagination and the Dangers of the Human Mind.

2. Throughout the novel, Eleanor grapples with her sense of identity.

• How does Eleanor’s identity change as she drives toward Hill House, and why? (topic sentence)
• Give at least 3 examples that show Eleanor’s identity changing throughout the novel.