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 throughout your response that serve as examples and support.

1. Daniel, Joel, and Malthace’s vow forge a bond of strength and trust between the three. Their common goal, passion, and shared burdens make their struggle for victory easier.

• Why is the bond between Daniel, Joel, and Malthace important in the novel? (topic sentence)
• Explain why the bond between the three friends is important, how it helps the three in their personal lives, and how it is critical in resolving Daniel’s internal conflict. Use evidence from the novel to support your ideas.
• In your concluding sentences, explain how the novel may have concluded differently had the bond between the three not formed.

2. In the novel, Samson is seen as more of a nuisance to Daniel than as a friend, but he eventually plays a pivotal role in the development of Daniel’s character.