Designing
Questions for Discussing Literature
A good discussion question must do two things:
1. Refer to a specific page/ passage/ symbol/ element/ theme related to the text.
2. Promote
a discussion/ debate involving an analysis of this page, theme, etc.
Use the
following stems to create analytical questions:
What is the
significance of [a statement, action, phrase, symbol] on page _____?
Based on what we
know about [character's name], will he/she______?
How does
[statement, action, phrase, symbol] on page - relate to _____?
What is the
mood/tone of [cite a specific line or paragraph]?
What is the effect
of [a particular word choice, sentence pattern, literary device]?
What is ironic
about [specific comment or action]?
Why does the narrator mention _____?
Compare/contrast
[a character, action, description, etc.]
Please
avoid:
1. Literal
questions which can be answered directly by the text.
What does Holden
keep asking the cab drivers about?
Who is James Castle?
2. Speculative
questions which involve 'changing' the story/ information we know about the
characters.
What if Holden hadn't been kicked out of Pencey?
What would have happened if Phoebe decided to run away with Holden?
3. Speculative questions which involve the author.
Why was Salinger fixated on drinking?
Why did the author make Holden so
depressed?
NOTE: There is such
a thing as a clarifying question--don't get these confused with
discussion questions. It is okay to ask, “On page 12, what does the word
'frantic' mean?” in order to help you understand the story, but these
are not analytical questions.