In the conclusion of Sophie’s World, Sophie and Knox, along with Hilde and her father, explore the question of the origins of the universe and the Big Bang, a modern theory. In doing so, they return to the beginning of their own history at the end of their story. Explore the progression of Sophie’s journey through The History of Ideas and how the philosophical theories posed in the novel’s conclusion relate to the idea of The Unity in All Existence.

Teaching Suggestion: This prompt is designed to help students pull together the novel’s plot, Sophie’s character arc, and the ways in which both of these connect to the novel’s themes and philosophical ideas. Encourage students to also examine the ironies in the final theory being related to the oldest event and the way that the beginning is examined at the end.

Differentiation Suggestion: For students with executive functioning and processing differences, consider providing a graphic organizer that outlines the key events, philosophers, and changes in Sophie’s perspective throughout the novel. This will allow students to concretely visualize how Sophie’s experiences connect.