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. Christie uses the nursery rhyme “Three Blind Mice” in her script.

• What is the purpose of nursery rhymes in the play? (topic sentence)
• Describe what Georgie’s purpose in using the rhyme is in the play, then explain why you believe Christie chose a nursery rhyme to drive her plot. Consider the emotions the nursery rhyme might evoke in the audience.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, explain whether you believe the nursery rhyme is a useful element in the mystery genre.

2. The novel is set in Monkswell Manor during a snowstorm.

• How does the weather, specifically the snow, create tension and suspense? (topic sentence)
• Provide three ways in which the snow creates tension and suspense in The Mousetrap.